THE scheme to encourage college-leavers to stay and work in East Lancashire, mentioned in your article 'Graduates' local link' (LET, April 4) only applies to people who are 27 or under.

Does this mean that the rest of us are on the scrap heap? If it does, what a waste of money it is trying to better yourself.

What about me? I was 32 when I received my MSc. I am 37 now and unable to find a job in accountancy for which my qualifications are - because I don't have the correct experience.

I tried to gain it when I was self-employed, but bad debts put an end to that. Agencies do not even recognise experience gained in accounting when you are self-employed.

It also applies to people with HND. They aren't graduates in the true sense of the word. I have two degrees and, for me, these aren't even considered. Mine and other people's talent is being wasted.

According to your report, ELTEC and Burnley Enterprise Trust say: "Graduate recruits are a valuable source of new skills and ideas and a key weapon for building competitiveness in the area." However, what are they doing to help people like me? Nothing.

There should be equal opportunities in the workplace and employment schemes and ELTEC and BET should try and help mature students.

JOHN DARDIS, Marabou Drive, Darwen.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.