Boots UK is collaborating with Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham City Council,  Nottinghamshire County Council, and other leading employers in the region, on a unique work experience scheme for students - the #Grads4Nottm scheme.

Now in its second year, the initative aims to retain graduate-level talent in the region to help support the local economy.  It showcases the excellent employment opportunities the county has to offer students when they graduate and raises awareness of the many businesses located in the region, including the SMEs, which are major recruiters of graduates locally.

The scheme, which runs from 14-18 December 2015, offers a week’s work experience with a twist. Employers have submitted real-life challenges which have been advertised anonymously so the students apply for the task they are interested in rather than to a brand or company they recognise.

Hanna Luetkemeier, Business Development Team Leader at Nottingham Trent University, said: “The scheme provides local employers with the chance of working collaboratively with Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council to raise awareness of the many great employment opportunities they offer in the region and to show students what a brilliant place Nottinghamshire is to live when they leave university.

“Each year, we have 8,000 students graduate  and we would like them to find local jobs with great prospects. Additioanlly, the more we can do to encourage students to stay in the region, the greater the local economic impact will be. Last year, the scheme was extremely successful and this year’s initiative looks to be even bigger and better.  As well as giving local businesses the chance of showcasing the many excellent opportunites they have available, the scheme also provides students with a unique work experience opportunity”

This year, 25 employers in a variety of sectors have signed up to take part, with 34 different challenges on offer for students and recent graduates.  Students can apply for various challenges,  including  planning social media campaigns, devising sales and marketing plans and IT project planning tasks. 

The first day of the week-long challenge is hosted by Boots UK and BCM at the Boots site in Beeston. It includes skills sessions in the morning and allows the students to meet their allocated employer in the afternoon. Students then spend three days in the businesses across Nottingham and everyone comes together at the university on the last day to celebrate.

Neil Armstrong, Early Careers Talent Manager at Boots UK, comments: “Nottingham is very lucky in that we have two fantastic universities, and the calibre of their candidates is exceptionally high. Retaining more graduate talent in Nottingham, however, continues to be a challenge; so at Boots UK, supporting schemes such as #Grads4Nottm is incredibly important.  We hope that this year it will continue to add value to businesses and local SME businesses, showcasing to graduates other excellent career opportunities available in the area.”

ENDS

 

About Boots UK

Boots UK (boots.com), the UK’s leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer, is part of the Retail Pharmacy International Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise.  With 2,510* stores in the UK, Boots UK is committed to providing exceptional customer and patient care, be the first choice for pharmacy and healthcare and offer innovative 'only at Boots' exclusive products such as the UK’s leading skincare brand No7, all delivered with the great value customers love. Created over 165 years ago, the Boots brand is still at the heart of the communities it serves.

*As at 31 August 2015 excluding equity method investments