Graduate Prospects achieves prestigious work experience accreditation

Graduate Prospects, the UKís official graduate careers support service and a subsidiary of the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU), has been recognised for its outstanding practice in work experience by the National Council for Work Experience (NCWE). NCWE has accredited Graduate Prospects with its Quality Mark, a standard which is awarded to employers who demonstrate that they provide quality work experience for UK students.

The Quality Mark is intended to raise standards for work experience and gives employers the opportunity to share good practice across a range of industry sectors and perhaps take a more strategic view of their relationships within higher education. Accreditation recognises placements which demonstrate the importance of qualities such as company commitment, learning and development of the student and programme evaluation.

In order to receive the NCWE Work Experience Quality Mark, Graduate Prospects submitted a written application which was evaluated by an advisory board against the Quality Markís comprehensive assessment criteria. These criteria fall into eight sections and test all aspects of employersí work experience programmes including recruitment procedures, induction practice and evaluation and monitoring.

Leanne Hague is a student who has recently benefited from the Quality Mark accredited scheme at Graduate Prospects. Leanne says of her work placement:

ìThe Quality Mark demonstrates that Graduate Prospects has a genuine interest in providing valuable work placements and is committed to ensuring that people like me get the most out of our time in the organisation. I have enjoyed my work placement and now feel ready to take on a full-time permanent job when I finish university.î

From an employerís perspective, employee retention is higher amongst personnel recruited as a result of internship programmes so providing good quality placements is clearly a worthwhile investment for companies participating in the Quality Mark accreditation scheme.

Zoe Mitchell, HR Manager at Graduate Prospects, says that:

ìGaining the NCWE accreditation has increased our competitive advantage in the undergraduate work placement market, enabling us to recruit the highest calibre of undergraduates.î

This is a view shared by Graduate Prospectsí Business Manager, Leon March:

ìThe NCWE Quality Mark undoubtedly makes us more attractive to prospective students looking for a work placement opportunity. It offers them the reassurance that they will receive work experience that is structured and meets their requirementsî.

Heather Collier, NCWE Director, adds:

ìGraduate Prospects runs an extremely strong work experience programme, which offers interns the opportunity to really become fully integrated within the company. Graduate Prospectís application demonstrated a dedication to helping participants grow personally and professionally. Other employers would do well to follow in their footsteps and offer schemes of this calibre.î

Intel and Mace are the latest companies to go forward for Quality Mark accreditation in June.

Organisations interested in finding out more on the Quality Mark can find further information on www.work-experience.org or can contact Rachel Wood-Harper on 0161 277 5215. Accreditation from the Quality Mark will last for three years and then employers can apply to be reaccredited. The Quality Mark package costs 3,500 and includes one assessor day, initial consultation, adviser meetings and sessions, assessment and accreditation.