Graduate Prospects in the Capital

Graduate Prospects, the leading UK provider of careers guidance and recruitment solutions for graduates, is to open a central London sales and customer service operation, designed to mirror its Manchester business and become the central hub for graduate recruitment in the South.

The force behind prospects.ac.uk (the only ABC E accredited graduate recruitment website), the National Council for Work Experience, getalife.org, and E-Guidance, Graduate Prospects has been based in Manchester for over thirty years. The expansion to London is part of its drive to meet and exceed the needs of a growing number of graduate recruiters in London and the South East.

According to the latest salary survey by Graduate Prospects, Graduate Market Trends Autumn 2004, almost a third (30.8 per cent) of graduate vacancies* are in London and the South East. Salary levels in the South** range from 10k to 35k, averaging at 18,506, with the greatest numbers of vacancies ñ over a fifth - in buying, selling and retailing (21.6 per cent), followed by advertising, promotion and marketing (12.2 per cent).

Nick Matthew, former publisher at Cahners and Elsevier Business Information, has been appointed to head up Graduate Prospectsí London operation, assisted by Natalie Cunningham, Sales Manager, who has been with Graduate Prospects since 1999. Nick will report to Allan Brown, Head of Sales, who oversees the Graduate Prospects sales operation from the Manchester office.

Allan Brown said: ìOur focus on building strong, long term relationships with our customers has paid real dividends in recent years. By setting up a London operation, we will be closer to many of our customers and their agencies, allowing us to better understand and meet their needs on a truly national basis. This exciting move will continue to build on our position as market leader and on the excellent growth we have experienced in the last 12 months from Manchester. Iím delighted to welcome Nick Matthew who will head up the team with Natalie and wish them both every success with our new venture.î

Nick Matthew added: ìGraduate recruitment is on the move in London and the South, and with so many of our clients based in the Capital, we felt the time was right to bring our skills and services closer to hand.î

Based in the heart of the City near Liverpool Street, the team of fifteen will be an extension of the Manchester sales team, delivering hands-on support to Graduate Prospectsí growing customer base in London and the South East.