For small businesses wanting to attract the best talent

The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) is launching a new online membership scheme from April to help organisations with up to 250 employees to recruit, retain and develop graduates.

Research carried out by the AGR in 2006 found that a significant number of graduates chose to work for a small or medium sized enterprise (SME) following graduation. AGR membership will help these organisations to attract the best talent.

The Association of Graduate Recruiters is the recognised national voice for all employers involved in graduate recruitment. It now has over 800 members including a significant number of public and private sectors businesses. It represents those providing a high proportion of graduate vacancies in the UK and is involved with research in and around the recruitment needs of employers.

Carl Gilleard, Chief Executive of the AGR comments, ìThis year is the 40th anniversary of the AGR, and over that time, the face of graduate recruitment has changed significantly. Not all graduates take up positions with large multinational organisations when they leave university, and smaller companies also need to compete to recruit and retain the best talent.

ìEven though smaller companies do not have structured graduate recruitment programmes, they will still face similar challenges. This online membership will allow them to tap into the countryís biggest network of professionals involved in graduate recruitment from the comfort of their own desk.î

The online membership package for small and medium sized organisations is available from 1 April and will cost only 150 VAT per year. Benefits include access to both the summer and winter Graduate Recruitment surveys as well as other pieces of research and briefing papers, an online subscription to the bi-monthly magazine, Graduate Recruiter, as well as regular news and information via the members-only website, and the opportunity to participate in discussion forums on issues affecting the sector.

Anne Farquharson, Marketing Director of Henderson Loggie, a medium-sized firm of Chartered Accountants with 220 staff in Scotland, said: ìIn the professional services sector the recruitment of highest calibre of staff is absolutely essential to the success of the business. An understanding of the graduate market is therefore crucial, and as members of the AGR we are able to tap into the latest research and gain an insight into current issues. We believe many graduates are attracted by the variety of work and increased responsibility on offer within small and medium sized firms, but often are less aware of these opportunities because our marketing resources are much more limited when compared to the larger firms. The market intelligence we gain from AGR allows us to be more targeted with this marketing spend and therefore achieve a better return on investment.î

To coincide with the launch of the e-membership, the AGR is also publishing a detailed guide for smaller companies on attracting and retaining graduates. The guide includes sections on:

- what kind of graduates to target
- how to advertise for graduates
- selecting the right candidates
- developing graduate employees in the longer-term

SMEs can pay an additional fee for a number of other resources, including a private consultation with the AGRís Chief Executive, Carl Gilleard, training for the AGR standard, a competency framework for graduate recruiters, participation in AGR Live master classes and attendance at the annual conference.