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Government responds to FSB lobbying on graduate placements

In an effort to bolster opportunities in a tough job market, the government has joined forces with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) to offer up to 10,000 graduate internships across the country. The move follows continued calls to recognise the importance of smaller companies as job creators for young graduates. According to the FSB, more than half of its 215,000 members "would employ more staff if given the right support" but found it hard to recruit university leavers. Research from previous schemes indicates that one in four graduates are also offered full-time employment in the business at the end of their placement. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the scheme would encourage a "whole new generation of young Britons to embrace ambition and British enterprise". Paul Henly, North West policy manager for the FSB, told Spark it was vital for higher education establishments and businesses to "work as one" but warned against making the red tape overly complex. "I hope the administration of these internships is kept simple and easy to operate for small businesses otherwise they will fail to attract sufficient interest," he said. The scheme will be administered through universities and part funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.