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FSB calls on government to tackle graduate unemployment

Published: Friday, 30 July 2010   Category: Work Experience

The government must do more to help get the UK's unemployed graduates into internships, according to a prominent lobbying group.

With the jobs market remaining competitive in the current economic climate, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has called for 5,000 new placements to be created.

Research by the FSB has shown that more than 20 per cent of small firms would be happy to take on a graduate, but that almost half (45 per cent) are unaware that they can offer internships.

"Graduate unemployment is set to soar to unprecedented levels this year as businesses struggle to make ends meet and cut back on recruiting university leavers," said FSB national chairman John Wright.

"However, in a graduate internship scheme, graduates can offer key skills to help businesses move forward while at the same time ensuring they are learning new skills and not unemployed at a crucial time in their careers."

Mr Wright added that the FSB is asking the coalition government to invest £3 million from the £32 million pot allocated to universities to achieve the target.

The FSB was formed in 1974 and is the UK's leading organisation representing small and medium-sized enterprises.