Many universities are currently, or have recently been, concluding and evaluating European-funded projects. This funding has enabled universities – in some cases, led by careers and employability services – to deliver innovative and impactful projects for their local region.
Take Liverpool – the LCR Grad Scheme, part-funded by the European Social Fund and delivered by the careers and employability team at the University of Liverpool, is a first of its kind city-wide graduate scheme (including attraction, recruitment and a full graduate development programme linked to the city region strategic goals) for the entire Liverpool city region. The programme enables local employers to access the graduate talent and skills to grow their business, and the graduates are supported into highly skilled roles and retained within the city region.
On the other side of the peaks, the RISE project, a partnership between Sheffield City Council, The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University, has supported more than 400 small and medium sized businesses in the Sheffield city region to recruit over 500 graduates since 2013. Since 2019, RISE has been part-funded by the England European Regional Development Fund and has produced a net GVA (gross value added) of £3.3m – and when we account for the long-term impact of the scheme, is estimated to produce a £22,3m net present value (NPV) over the next five years.
