Employers waste thousands of pounds every year on induction and training of new recruits who leave the job after only a few days or weeks, it is claimed.
Following a survey of local employers, Edinburgh’s Telford College has decided to come to their aid with a programme aimed at preparing students for a career and helping employers to find suitable staff.
The initiative will be led by a new company formed by the college, called Prospect-us Scotland, which will provide what it believes is unique online readiness for work for employers and students.
“This is a whole new approach to the hit-or-miss business of either finding a job or finding new staff,” Ray Harris, the principal, said.
“It combines the best traditions of further education with the skills of the employment agency to give the employer a range of work-ready candidates.
“And it gives students the chance to prepare themselves better for the world of work while on their course, and to find a job where they will be encouraged to develop a meaningful career path.”
The programme is also being made available on licence to other further education colleges so that employers across Scotland will benefit.
The college has linked up with Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothians, Scottish Gas and Melville Craig, the recruitment and human resources group, to run the company.
The Sheraton Hotel is one of the local employers hoping to benefit.
“Traditionally, Edinburgh hotels have struggled in some areas of recruitment, particularly as the city has a low unemployment level,” Karina Glennie, the hotel’s human resources executive, said.
“It costs pound;1,200 to provide each new recruit with a uniform, induction and other resources, so this is a huge investment for us. We believe Prospect-us Scotland is a good way of reducing this cost while still adding value to the recruitment process.”
As well as other kinds of training for employment, the programme gives leavers the opportunity to see the places where they may eventually work.
The Sheraton will introduce them to everything from the presidential suite to the pot-wash area.
Students will benefit from visits to sponsor employers and an eight-week training course designed to fit in with their studies. The training includes interview techniques, presentation skills, competency development and CV preparation.
The course gives students the opportunity for paid part-time work while they are studying and a better chance of a meaningful career when they graduate.
