A NEW graduate placements programme is allowing Bury companies to fill the skills gap.

And thanks to European and Government funding, Bury College is providing the expertise to benefit firms across a broad business spectrum.

The college's "Bury Business Placements" scheme is in the first 12 months of its four-year operation to bring graduate solutions to a host of corporate problems and requirements.

Already, a number of local companies have derived benefits from the initiative - and the college is appealing for more to get in touch.

Scheme project manager Tim Robson explained: "We provide a unique service for small to medium sized enterprises in the Bury area.

"Bury Business Placements acts as a broker between the company, graduates, and Bury College's academic staff.

"The service helps qualifying companies take advantage of business opportunities or resolve operational difficulties caused by specific, short-term gaps in the skills/expertise of their own staff."

The range of services available through the project are highly flexible and essentially include:

Identifying and developing project areas for the organisation. This may include assessing such business needs as information technology, communication systems, business planning or resolving "hard to fill" vacancy problems.

"Bury Business Placements" is able to source graduates from a wide range of disciplines to ensure an optimum match between the company's projects and the graduate's skills.

Mr Robson added: "Placements range from several weeks to 12 months and are accessible throughout the year.

"Support and advice for the company and graduate is available from Bury College teaching staff to help achieve the project's objectives."

The college will also provide participating firms with assistance of £100 a week for the graduates.

In addition to the placements scheme, Salford-based TCS (Teaching Company Scheme) Centre is also able to provide substantial benefits to small and medium sized companies in Bury.

The TCS Centre helps fuse partnerships between businesses and universities to introduce new knowledge, skills and technology into the business community.

Anyone wishing further details on "Bury Business Placements" can contact Tim Robson at Bury College. Ring (0161) 280 8693.

The scheme is funded by the European Union, the North West Development Agency, European Social Fund and Bury Single Regeneration Budget.

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