New work experience programme for unemployed graduates

New work experience programme for unemployed graduates

Unemployed graduates from Rochdale will soon be able to access twelve weeks of professional level work experience coordinated by local charity Groundwork Bolton, Bury, Oldham & Rochdale.

Groundwork's Volunteer Project Assistant (VPA) programme has helped over 2,000 people to kick-start their first steps into professional careers. The programme started in the early 1990’s as a way to provide unemployed graduates with real project management experience and to break the cycle of no job equals no experience equals no job.

Groundwork senior manager Rob Glenn said: “We are delighted to be restarting this programme. I got my first job through this scheme and you get to choose from dozens of diverse roles, it’s a brilliant way to gain project management experience on live projects.”

Groundwork is part of a consortium led by The Manchester College and funded by the Skills Funding Agency and European Social Fund.