Graduates are increasingly selective when comes to applying for graduate schemes offered by businesses. These programs need to be attractive in order to attract top talent and be competitive with similar schemes at other companies. Your business and opportunities at your company also need to be properly promoted and advertised in order to attract high-potential talent.

Designing a Successful Graduate Scheme

When setting up a graduate scheme, you need to determine what type of individual you want for your business. This involves creating a profile of your ideal candidate that you can use for assessing applicants. Criteria should include an outline of the experience, skills and knowledge you need as well as requirements related to the type of person and character you want for your company. When designing the program, you also need to identify the prospects or path forward for individuals recruited under the graduate scheme. In order for a graduate scheme to be successful, participants should have access to longer-term employment. This ensures that the individuals you are developing stay with your company.

To design an effective graduate scheme, you need to get intelligence about what graduates what and need. One way to do this is to look within your company. Talk to employees about what they consider an ideal candidate for your graduate scheme. This will give you information about the skills and knowledge of individuals you should be recruiting. Also, talk to students and recent graduates at nearby colleges and universities. Organizing a focus group or doing a survey will help you find out what graduates are looking for and what they want to get out of a graduate scheme. This research will give you perspectives of students and graduates to inform the design of your program.

Promoting Opportunities

Promoting your company to university students and recent graduates is an important part of attracting high calibre talent. Having a dedicated section on your website for students and graduates is a great way to target information and make it easily accessible. The section should include profiles of recent graduates’ experience working with your company. This section can be enhanced with social media, including links to your company’s Snapchat or Instagram accounts where photos highlighting the experiences of graduates working for your company. Profiles should be fun and informative but also ‘sell’ your company as a rewarding place to work.  Read more »

Every year, nearly 200,000 students graduate with an advanced business degree from a US university. Despite the growing graduate numbers, the value of reputable business degrees continues to rise in a labor market that increasingly demands specialized knowledge and skills. Below is a list of the best-ranking business schools in the States.

Harvard

Massachusetts-based Harvard is one of the world’s most prestigious business schools. This is reflected in the breadth and depth of its business programs, which include MBAs, DBAs, doctoral degrees, and executive education programs. In 2016, over 1,800 students enrolled in a business degree at Harvard. Graduates can expect to earn anything between $92,000 and $232,000 depending on their employer’s location, industry, and company size.

Stanford

Stanford Graduate School of Business is repeatedly ranked as one of the world’s top-3 business schools. This institution is based in Palo Alto (California) and offers both traditional and accelerated business training programs in small classes of about 390 students each. Approximately 1,800 full-time students enroll every year. Stanford business graduates tend to receive solid job offers 90 days post-graduation (mostly in finance and technology firms) and median salaries are $130,000.

Yale

The Yale School of Management is located in New Haven, Connecticut, where it offers MBAs, Masters of Advanced Management, Doctoral programs, and joint degree courses to over 660 students every year (class size is under 280). Average base salaries post-graduation are $119,000 / year, and approximately 93% of students are employed within three months of graduating. Most Yale graduates take up roles in consulting, finance, accounting, and marketing. Read more »

The UK’s 2016-2017 Budget was unveiled on 16 March. On the whole, British businesses welcomed the new measures outlined in this year’s Budget, as it was clear that the key changes were made in an attempt to stimulate the economy from bottom to top and to facilitate job creation while providing solid incentives for entrepreneurial activities nationwide. Approximately £24 billion have allocated to industry, agriculture, and employment, which have become top priorities given the crucial role that they play in driving economic growth in the country. This article provides an overview of how the new measures outlined in this year’s Budget will affect UK businesses.

A 2015 study carried out by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research revealed that the UK is on its way to becoming the second largest economy in Europe, as key indicators including total GDP and purchasing power continue to rise. Moreover, economists at the Centre for Economic and Business Research have predicted that by 2028, the United Kingdom could rank among the world’s top three largest economies, ahead of giants like Germany and Japan. This level of economic growth is partly the result of a long-term development strategy that has been designed by the UK Department for Trade & Investment and implemented by the Regeneration Investment Organisation. Regeneration projects are a fundamental part of the UK’s growth and development strategy, and this article looks at the key projects that are currently underway in Central England.

Medi Park Nottingham

Medi Park Nottingham is an £100-million regeneration scheme that aims to turn the Midlands into a leading hub for advanced medical technologies. The project will focus on the creation of a science park that will expand the infrastructure and capabilities of the University of Nottingham and of Queen’s Medical Centre. Approximately 3.7 hectares of land will be turned into state-of-the-art commercial space, which will include 100,000 square feet of laboratory and business space in addition to 400,000 square feet of retail, hospitality, and leisure facilities. Companies that choose to base themselves at Medi Park will benefit from the area’s Enterprise Zone status, which translates into extensive business incentives and tax breaks. The project’s completion date is set to Q4 2023. Read more »

Regeneration Projects: Central England

A 2015 study carried out by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research revealed that the UK is on its way to becoming the second largest economy in Europe, with key indicators including total GDP and purchasing power continue to rise. Moreover, economists at the Centre for Economic and Business Research have predicted that by 2028, the United Kingdom could rank among the world’s top three largest economies, ahead of giants like Germany and Japan. This level of economic growth is partly the result of a long-term development strategy that has been designed by the UK Department for Trade & Investment and implemented by the Regeneration Investment Organisation. Regeneration projects are a fundamental part of the UK’s growth and development strategy, and this article looks at some of the key projects that are currently underway in Central England.

Worcester Growth Corridor

In the near future, Worcester will offer world class investment opportunities thanks to the £300-million regeneration project known as the Worcester Growth Corridor. This initiative aims to redevelop nearly 300 hectares of space along the M5, creating opportunities for investment in commercial, residential, and mixed-use real estate. A total of 8 sites will be redeveloped, the first being the Worcester Technology Park, which will primarily provide first-class business accommodation to companies in the advanced manufacturing, clean technologies, and agri-food sectors.

Overall, it is expected that this project will help create more than 6,800 permanent jobs in the local area. This regeneration project will be carried out in various phases over a period of 15 years, and its estimated delivery date is Q4 2024.

Priors Hall Park, Corby

With a GDV of over £1,200 million, the Priors Hall Park project is one of the most ambitious regeneration projects currently taking place in Central England. The project covers an area of more than 500 hectares in Northamptonshire, and will result in the construction of over 5,000 sustainable homes and of commercial premises, including office and industrial space. This project capitalises on Corby’s strategic location, as the town offers access to 75 per cent of the country’s population with just a 2-hour drive. Read more »

Mississippi’s capital and largest city, Jackson is also the largest economic center in the state. Home to major electrical equipment and machinery, processed food, and metal product industries, with numerous major companies based in the city including Ergon, Cal-Maine Foods and Trustmark.

Offering affordable business premises, excellent business services and easy access to financing, Jackson is one of the best places to do business in the United States. The city also provides businesses with excellent transportation links, including one of just two international airports in Mississippi. It is also at the cross-roads of major railway lines and interstate highways, including the I-20 and I-55. According to WalletHub’s 2015 list of best cities in the U.S. to start a business, Jackson ranks fifth out of 150 cities across the country. In the same national ranking, Jackson was fourth in terms of access to resources including office affordability, employee availability and financing accessibility. Mississippi also ranks high for doing business. The state ranked in the top 10 states for doing business, as well as sixth in terms of overall cost of doing business and third for competitive labor costs by the Area Development Magazine in 2014.  Read more »

Dallas, Texas is a well-known hub of business activity as the fourth most populous metropolitan area of the United States. This distinction has allowed Dallas to develop a wide range of industries to serve a far-reaching economy that is as healthy as it is diverse. While much of the credit for the growth of Dallas’ economy can be attributed to the businesses themselves, state and local governments also play a role in nurturing an environment of healthy business growth. In the end, Dallas is an excellent example of what can be done when business leaders and government leaders can work together toward a common goal.

Major Industries in Dallas

Some of the most successful companies in the Dallas metro area are in the technology, defense and financial industries. These three industries account for thousands of jobs in Dallas and have become a mainstay of the economic climate in the city.

On the technology front, telecommunications and IT services are very important to the economy of Dallas. The importance of IT services to economies can often be overlooked, but this is generally due to the small nature of most IT service providers. However, a number of international companies, such as Rackspace, have a major presence in the city and provide greatly to the business climate.

The defense industry often has aerospace and aviation lumped into it as these three industries are so acutely intertwined. These industries provide more than 150,000 jobs to the people of Dallas in over 1,300 companies. The large airport capacity, educated workforce and lenient laws regarding the classification on commercial space are often cited as a draw to companies in these industries. As a result of this growth, the average person working in these industries makes a little over $80,000 a year.

Anyone curious about how the financial industry gained so much power in Dallas need only look as far as the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. As one of only twelve district banks in the Federal Reserve system, Dallas has become a major player in financial markets throughout the country. This has led to the development of a strong financial sector in Dallas itself, with a growth of 11 percent in financial sector jobs since 2010. While the Federal Reserve itself is not responsible for this industry thriving as it does, it’s noted as a driving force in the identity and economic development of the area. Read more »

During the past two decades, the Scottish economy has undergone an important transformation that has helped bring Scotland to the forefront of social and economic development. As Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh has played a crucial role in this transformation and is now recognised as one of the most prosperous cities in the United Kingdom. This is undoubtedly good news for entrepreneurs looking to set up a business in the Scottish capital.

Edinburgh’s economy

The Scottish government has capitalised on Edinburgh’s potential to become an economic powerhouse, and the strategy has had excellent results. Currently, Edinburgh has a GDP per capita in excess of £49,000, a figure that is only surpassed by the GDP levels of the British capital. But the city’s strong economic growth levels are also in line with other key global players. A recent fDi Magazine survey listed Edinburgh as the third best-ranking city of the future in terms of business friendliness, quality of life, economic potential, and skills pool, placing the city ahead of major business hubs like Paris and Berlin.

The latest data set released by the local city council reveals that key economic indicators in the city have been following an upward trend for several consecutive quarters. This is the case of the city’s macro-economic environment (measured in terms of output per resident and currently set at £38,000 per person) and in the foreign direct investment rates, whose ongoing increase has created nearly 600 new jobs over the past 12 months. Business density in Edinburgh is another positive indicator, and at 93 companies per square kilometre, is among the UK’s highest. All these factors have had a positive impact on overall business confidence levels, which have been rising for three consecutive years and are nearly 28 per cent higher than in 2012.

Key industry sectors in Edinburgh

The 2014 Global Financial Centres Index listed the Scottish capital among the world’s best-rated cities for businesses in the banking, insurance, and finance sectors. There are approximately 35,000 people working in this industry all over the city, which is also home to 90 per cent of all fund managers in Scotland. Some prestigious financial companies that have chosen to be based in Edinburgh include JP Morgan Europe, Scottish Widows, Standard Life, AEGON, Bank of New York Mellon, Royal Bank of Scotland, and Quayle Munro.

The city is also a key European destination for companies in the life sciences sector, especially in areas like the Science Triangle and Edinburgh’s BioQuarter. IT, software development, and the creative sector are also experiencing constant growth.
Read more »

Los Angeles is one of the largest cities in the country and is known as the entertainment hub of California. While technology companies and the entertainment industry receive a large amount of well deserved of credit for bolstering the economy of Los Angeles, it’s important to note that these industries aren’t the only ones employing Angelinos. In fact, the largest industry in Los Angeles by far is the manufacturing industry, followed closely by steel fabrication and shipping. There are a lot of factors that contribute toward the constant growth and development of the myriad industries of Los Angeles.

Major Industries and Economic Drivers in Los Angeles

According to Forbes, the creative industries in Los Angeles account for around 1/6 of all the employment in the city. Manufacturing is perhaps the largest industry in the city, with jobs in the manufacturing sector accounting for over 500,000 manufacturing jobs in Los Angeles. Among the most commonly manufactured goods in Los Angeles are sheet metal, consumer electronics and aerospace technologies. Large tracts of land are set aside throughout the city that are either currently being used by manufacturing companies or set aside for industrial use.

In addition to the manufacturing and creative industries, shipping is a large industry in Los Angeles. The Port of Los Angeles is the largest commercial port in the United States, with more shipping going through that port than anywhere on either the Pacific or Atlantic coasts. Its proximity to major shipping lanes connecting to Japan and China have been a huge part of this growth, though there have also been a large number of government incentives developed to protect and nurture this industry.

Government Programs and Incentives for Business in Los Angeles

Integral to growing a thriving and robust economy are developing incentives that both draw business to the city and nurture its growth. Every aspect of the business generation chain from development to operations and growth have some form of government support scheme to gather support from. This means that new businesses can find help in land use, land development, zoning assistance, seed funding and even legal assistance. Also, tax breaks and tax incentives are a popular way to push growth throughout the greater Los Angeles metro area. Read more »

Scotland’s largest city has come a long way since its humble origins. Glasgow has gone from being a rural trading post to becoming one of Europe’s top financial centres, and the city has responded well to the challenges presented by globalisation, population growth, and the ever-increasing demand for competitiveness. As a result, Glasgow has become a particularly attractive destination for both established business owners and startups. As part of our ‘Top Cities for Business’ series, in this post we take a detailed look at the many reasons why Glasgow is a top choice for companies and entrepreneurs.

An overview of Glasgow’s economy
Over the past two decades, the local authorities in Glasgow have been focusing on diversifying the city’s economic base and on investing in modern infrastructure in order to attract businesses and further investment. This strategy has certainly paid off, since the Scottish city has been one of the few UK urban centres to be successful at weathering the economic storm brought about by the global crisis. Glasgow ranks 16th in terms of economic competitiveness within the UK (outside of London) and is very close to attaining the competitiveness levels of cities like Brussels and Copenhagen. It is estimated that the city’s companies produce an annual turnover of over £31 million, a figure that represents 12.7 per cent of Scotland’s total economic output. Read more »