Manchester Masters scheme launches
A PILOT scheme to retain the best creative graduate talent in Manchester has launched today, and its organisers are calling on businesses to get involved.
Called Manchester Masters, the initiative will see 10 graduates from any discipline working in creative roles for four separate businesses in one year.
The chosen graduates from Manchester University, Manchester Metropolitan University and Salford University will receive a £12,000 tax free salary and the free use of a city centre flat.
Manchester Masters organisers are calling for up to 40 city centre businesses to get involved. The graduates will spend three months in each company working in PR, advertising, media, digital and design roles.
“The businesses will pay 50% of the graduates’ salary, but that means the cost to a business is just £1,500 for a quarter,” said Sandy Lindsay, Manchester Masters project director and managing director of PR agency Tangerine.
Students apply online, before being chosen to attend a two day selection process, which the businesses offering placements will attend to make sure they find graduates that suit their needs.
Organisations already signed up to the programme include Manchester Confidential, Marketing Manchester, inward investment agency MIDAS, Million-2-1, Bruntwood and PR firms MC2 and Tangerine.
“It gives the businesses the chance to try out four different members of staff. But to be honest, the challenge in that respect will be to make sure that the students don’t get poached by other businesses half way through the course,” said Mrs Lindsay.
The programme has funding to run for the next two years, but Mrs Lindsay hopes it will become an established programme, with it expanding to include sectors outside the creative industries in future years.
Mrs Lindsay Added: “Manchester is a key destination for students, however, the brain drain issue of post graduates leaving the city in pursuit of careers elsewhere… is impacting heavily on retaining this talent for business.
“We need something that will be so tempting that people will fight to study in Manchester, and then when they’ve finished, something that will keep the very best in Manchester.”
Funding for the scheme has come from Manchester City Council, and NESTA, with partners including Manchester Knowledge capital and Manchester Enterprise.
