Bath Spa University met with Employment Minister

Bath Spa University has joined forces with the government to help professional and executive jobseekers from the local community. Bath Spa and two other universities in the South West were invited by Jobcentre Plus to provide careers coaching courses for business professionals and executives who have recently been made redundant as a result of the recession.

Bath Spa University’s Head of Employability, Adam Powell, was part of a small delegation meeting the Employment Minister (and Minister for the South West) Jim Knight to share their experience of running the successful pilot courses.

Bath Spa University’s own careers experts, who normally offer advice to students and graduates, hosted an intensive three-day course on the main University campus, Newton Park, in July. A total of 23 jobseekers attended, ranging from a finance director to a partner in a law firm and all recently made redundant.

They received specialist guidance on how to achieve their full potential in the current jobs market, including new career paths such as starting a business, retraining, updating skills and taking up postgraduate study. The course explored the latest techniques in compiling executive CVs, online applications and in advanced interview skills. It also provided an opportunity for these professionals to network and share experiences with each another, having worked for many years in high-level employment.

Bath Spa is hoping the new link between universities and Jobcentre Plus, run so far as a pilot project, will eventually be rolled out nationwide. It is already proving a valuable addition to the range of existing support services available to students and recent graduates, as well as individuals and businesses from the local area.

For full story visit: www.bathspa.ac.uk