A pioneering partnership project between Sheffield Hallam University, the University of Sheffield and Sheffield City Council has been recognised for getting talented graduates into employment after winning a prestigious national award from the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR).
The partners received the Preparation for Work by Higher Education award from AGR for the innovative RISE project – a city-wide initiative which strives to increase graduate employment in small and medium-sized enterprises.
The RISE project has been shortlisted for numerous national titles this year, including the Guardian Awards and the Times Higher Education Awards. It brings together graduates who want to work hard and achieve great things, with businesses with energy and vision that are looking for fresh talent.
Paul Helm, lead for employability at Sheffield Hallam, said: “RISE is a terrific initiative and it’s great to have its success recognised by this national award. It’s an excellent example of the Council and both universities working together with local businesses to provide graduate employment opportunities in the region.
“Lots of big employers run graduate recruitment programmes, but RISE is the only initiative of its kind in the UK, providing a unique opportunity for SMEs to benefit from the fresh talent provided by graduates from the city’s two universities.
The University’s Careers and Employment service was also one of four finalists out of almost 350 nominees for the Most Improved Commitment to Employability award at the National Undergraduate Employability Awards last week.
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