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The Government's response to the South West Regional Select Committees report on the 'Impact of the economic downturn on the South West' welcomed the partnership working between Jobcentre Plus and the region's universities, spear headed by Universities South West.
The report stated:
'Graduate unemployment
9. We welcome the partnership working between Jobcentre Plus and universities in the region to cater for the wider profile of people seeking employment opportunities during the downturn.
The Government welcomes the Committee's endorsement of the region's approach to supporting a wider profile of job seekers. We will continue to seek opportunities to tailor provision to meet the needs of all clients.
Joint working arrangements have been established between universities in the region and Jobcentre Plus (JCP) to help cater for the significant numbers of redundant professionals and executives. This was the subject of an ECIF (Economic Challenge Investment Fund) bid to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) by a regional partnership comprising JCP, HERDA (the association of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the South West), and HEI careers services from Bristol, Bath, Bath Spa and the University of the West of England. The bid was not successful; despite this, the partnership, agreed with the Department for Work and Pensions to trial a three-day course using Rapid Response Funding. The trial has now been completed. The partnership's work helped to demonstrate how existing support and training resources could be adapted to the needs of graduates and those from a professional and executive background. DWP officials are currently considering how best to take the support for graduates forward.
SWRDA is collaborating with the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE) on the Flying Start: Make IT Happen programme of events, which are aimed at encouraging unemployed graduates in the region to become self-employed. SWRDA is also working with the NCGE to develop a University Enterprise Network which will promote business start-up to undergraduates studying for degrees in the creative industries.
The SWRDA also supports the Gradsouthwest website. On average the website advertises 1,200 graduate jobs at any one time, including those in the region on the national Graduate Talent Pool website.'