Isle of Man Government launches social networking site to bring young professionals home

The Isle of Man Governmentís Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is 'going social' with the launch of a free, online social network to help connect local employers with Manx graduates and other skilled Manx individuals who are living abroad and who may be looking for suitable employment on the Island. The initiative is part of the Government's strategy to encourage Manx graduates and other skilled workers to return to the Isle of Man once they have completed their graduate studies and/or developed other valuable vocational skills. Developed in conjunction with PDMS, www.manxgraduates.im contains a database for use by both local organisations seeking to recruit and by individuals looking for work on the Island. Minister for Trade and Industry Hon David Cretney MHK commented: We hope that this innovative new website will help to promote the range of career opportunities that exist in our diverse economy to skilled individuals, many of whom are Manx-born and may be seeking to build a suitable career on the Island. Attracting such talented individuals is vital if we are to continue to build our skills base. As a parent with a daughter in further education myself, I know how important it is that individuals studying or working in the UK and elsewhere can access up-to-date information about career opportunities here in the Isle of Man, so we can attract them back to make a valuable contribution to our community. ì

Manxgraduates.im borrrows some of the interactive social features that made Facebook popular and is free to use for employers, recruiters and graduates. People can register online to provide details such as their skills, experience and the type of job they are seeking. Isle of Man employers and recruitment companies can provide a company profile and details of general opportunities and specific vacancies.

The social aspects of Web 2.0 technology are transforming how people communicate and connect, and this new channel has huge potential in helping the Isle of Man address its recruitment challenges, said Chris Gledhill, managing director of PDMS, the software development company behind manxgraduates.com. Social networks are still cutting edge in the context of public services, but they are a cost effective way to build community and strengthen relationships with stakeholders.

Manxgraduates.im was built with PDMS's Foundations, a development framework used to build web applications to meet the specific needs of any organisation, better, faster and cheaper than most bespoke or off-the-self solutions.

The Isle of Man, located in the Irish Sea, is a self-governing British Crown Dependency with its own government and laws. The Island has more than 80,000 residents and for more than a decade it has had virtually full employment,with job seekers typically representing less than 1.5% of the population. Its workforce is educated and experienced.