‘Fit for work’ – the journey so far!

‘Fit for work’ – the journey so far! David Quain International Centre for Brewing & Distilling, School of Life Sciences, Heriot-Watt University

Some context - ICBD • International Centre for Brewing and Distilling in the School of Life Sciences • ICBD alumni are found all around the world of brewing and distilling • Honours and M.Sc in Brewing & Distilling • Honours students are primarily from the UK whereas the one year M.Sc cohort are more ‘global’

An ever changing world • Globalisation and consolidation • Mature markets (UK, western Europe, USA) are static • Growth in ‘new’ markets – China, India, eastern Europe • Still jobs to get but massive competition

Employability of HW students is good isn’t it? • ‘The Guardian has Heriot-Watt in top 15 in UK for graduate employment in latest league table results’ (17th May)

Perhaps not as good as we might think • In April 2009, global brewer, Molson Coors ran a mini-assessment centre to select four students from ICBD for summer placements • Only one was selected! • It was obvious from this that there some big gaps in our students ‘employability skills’

The reality is grim! applications v hires in 2009

And is getting worse … The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) reveals its members are faced with so many applications that they have been forced to reject anyone with less than an upper-second degree.A new survey by the AGR published today reveals that every graduate vacancy this year is attracting an average of 69 applications, compared with 49 last year and 31 in 2008.Overall, there has been a 6.9 per cent drop in graduate vacancies, which comes after an 8.9 per cent fall last year. ‘ Degree of difficulty: 2:2 award not enough to get jobs – The Scotsman 06/07/10

What employers want When asked in a CBI survey what universities should prioritise, 82% of employers chose ‘improving students’ employability skills’

What is ‘employability’ A set of attributes, skills and knowledge that all labour market participants should posses to ensure they have the capability of being effective in the workplace - to the benefit of themselves, their employer and the wider economy CBI publication ‘Future fit – preparing graduates for the world of work’ (2009)

Growing employability – ‘fit for work’ • Working with the ICBD ‘community’ – 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th year undergraduates together with M.Sc students – cohort of 75 students • Extracurricular – not captured in the syllabus

Growing employability – ‘fit for work’ • Working with the ICBD ‘community’ – 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th year undergraduates together with M.Sc students – cohort of 75 students • Extracurricular – not captured in the syllabus • Focus on two key areas • Embedding the basics • Making more of placements

A ‘door opening’ CV Researching the Company/sector Preparing for competency - based or telephone interviews Presentation skills Psychometric Tests etc Understanding assessment centre structures Embedding the basics what this means

Careers Advisory Service Embedding the basics in collaboration with • Making more of on-campus resources – both face-to-face and on-line • A huge but seemingly unappreciated, underused resource • Students appear to suffer from myopia!

Embedding the basics in collaboration with Industry via ‘Thursday sessions’ • Thursday evening sessions under the banner of ‘fit for work’ • 5 in year 1 (09/10), 9 this year across two semesters • Extracurricular but attendance is recorded

Embedding the basics in collaboration with Industry via ‘Thursday sessions’ • Sessions include • Intro to employability • General introduction into company, brands and markets + recruitment practices (craft/regional – Stewart Brewing and Holts) + global (Diageo, Molson Coors, Heineken) • Contemporary issues – world class operations and sustainability (CCI and Heineken)

Thursday sessions – mix + attendance MSc students represent 48% of the cohort Average of 60% attendance - 40% of 10/11 cohort attended 7-9 sessions

Making more of placements experiencing of the world of work • Develop ICBD relationships with existing/new employers • More professional, sustainable approach • Placements prospectus • Expand and support • 3 month summer placements for 2ndand 3rd years • 12 month placements for graduates (Honours and M.Sc) ‘it’s like a thirteen week interview’

Placements 2010 - numbers

Placements 2010 - companies

Job opportunities

Networking ‘Do not wait until you’re looking for work. Start building your professional network in your first year and by the time you start thinking about internships a year later – and jobs a year after that – you will be able to use it’ ‘Having a well constructed professional profile online means that this will be the first thing that potential employers see when they Google’ The Times graduatecareer– ‘raise your profile to get ahead’ – 15/09/10

Networking Linkedin group has 199 members – students are encouraged to Link in

Fit for work - at the crossroadsextra- v intracurricular? • Extracurricular – selects students with personal responsibility for their own development and is easier to flex, develop and manage • Intracurricular- allow programme to evolve and develop + course credits (‘respectability’)

Employers get it and support it (to varying degrees) Placements make a difference Some employers are struggling to fill the 'people pipeline' Many students do not own their own development Some students have a romanticised view of employment Change management is hard – some staff/students don't like it Support – many words but little real action Finally some learnings/insights

‘Fit for work’ – the journey so far!