Employers Invited to Join Harper’s Success

Posted 30 November 2004

After being highly praised for its success at getting graduates into jobs, Harper Adams University College has invited employers to share in its winning formula.

According to official league tables* the Shropshire-based university college has the second highest level of graduate employment in England, with an exceptionally high average of 81.2 per cent of first degree students finding work after graduating. Even including Higher Educations institutions across the whole of the UK, the specialist land-based college was ranked third for graduate employment, beating more than 165 universities and colleges, including Oxbridge.

The college has attributed much of its success to the fact that all students undertake a year’s work experience with employers across the UK and beyond. This helps students to complement academic theory with hands-on skills and a deeper understanding of the needs of the modern workplace.

Now, the college is seeking to strengthen its winning formula by offering more companies the chance to benefit from employing a placement student. Dr Russell Readman, Agriculture Placement Manager at Harper Adams, said: “Due to growth in student numbers the college requires further agriculture, marketing and business placements commencing July 2005. A placement student can benefit your business in a number of ways. They often bring new ideas and fresh enthusiasm and an up to date knowledge of latest industry developments, new technology and I.T skills. Many of our long-term employers have reported that students use their knowledge and skills to tackle projects put on the backburner, and are also a cost effective additional staff resource. In addition, industry often benefits from the latest research being carried out at the college.”

He added: “Feedback I have received from employers has proven that Harper Adams students are highly sought after in the graduate market, and this has been backed up by the league tables recently published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency. They stand out as good team workers who can think for themselves and get on with the job, focus on business issues and solutions and resolve business problems effectively. Many employers are so impressed with their placement students that they offer them permanent employment after they have graduated.”

If you are interested in offering a placement please contact Dr Russell Readman (agriculture - 01952 815380) or Mrs Susan Reynolds (marketing & business – 01952 815271)