IT graduates despondent about telecoms jobs
BUSINESS graduates in the Midlands believe their chances of securing work in the IT and telecoms sector have been significantly reduced because of a decision by BT to reduce its annual graduate intake.
Birmingham telecoms firm, Interactive Telecoms polled more than 200 students in the region via an online survey and found that more than 80% were pessimistic about the employment situation.
Most of the university leavers said their chances of finding work had been made harder by the decision by BT to reduce its graduate intake from 200 to 130.
The survey also found over 70% of students felt more graduate opportunities in the telecoms field needed to be introduced.
In an attempt to improve the situation in the sector, Interactive Telecoms said it was entering into a partnership with internship provider Graduate Advantage.
The partnership will create new graduate roles at Interactive’s Vittoria Street head office.
The two partners hope to create 10 new graduate positions in the region over the coming months.
The roles will focus on voice and data telecommunications and cover two main learning criteria – business development and sales and marketing.
Neil Jelley, Interactive’s sales manager, said: “With BT reducing its 2010 graduate intake, we decided other regional telecommunication specialists would need to fill this significant gap to ensure a skills shortage does not appear in the future.
“By offering graduate internships we are taking a big step in the region to offer roles which will help students mould and develop a career in the telecoms sector.”
Julie Stonnall, business development manager for Graduate Advantage, said: “Interactive Telecoms are committed to creating graduate opportunities in the West Midlands.
“By introducing its own graduate placements it is taking action to ensure the future talent within the region does not slip through the net.”
Graduate Advantage has now placed over 1,500 graduates into companies across the West Midlands.
The Association of Graduate Recruiters revealed last week the number of applications for each graduate vacancy has surged to nearly 70 while the number of available positions is predicted to fall by nearly 7%.
