Integrating term-time working into graduate employability development strategies

Government at the time of this project was seeking to improve graduate employability. With work placements for undergraduates struggling to keep up with the expansion in student numbers, term-time working can potentially provide a significant source of employability skills. In recent years, reflecting changes such as the imposition of student fees and ending of maintenance grants, an increasing proportion of students are working. At Northumbria University, for example, research shows that around 60% undergraduates take a job during term-time. Our project builds on previous research into Students in the Labour Market, undertaken by the Northern Economic Research Unit (NERU), and based on interviews with students and employers. For this project, a sample of employers were interviewed with regard to student employability issues. The views of employers were also sought regarding developing more formalised links (i.e. with particular degree course programmes) in relation to student termtime working, as a means of pursuing employability (and other) outcomes. The paper reports on a survey of activity related to employability in other English universities, and incorporates these findings in its discussion of the way forward on this issue

Student Employability – Integrating term-time working into graduate employability

This was a final report of research based on interviews with students and employers with regard to student employability in the local north east labour market

The economic impact of immigration

This submission is in response to a request from the Clerk to the Economic Affairs Committee for further information on migration to the North of England, with particular reference to skills. It is an individual rather than School or University response. The following comments are concerned with Polish migration and are based on nearly three years accrued knowledge of Polish migrant workers following a series of projects in the North of England that either I have undertaken myself or in one case been part of a research team. Although, this work has not sort to specifically investigate the introduction of skilled Polish workers into the North of England I consider that it provides a context into which many skilled Polish workers have been introduced

Country Report: United Kingdom

This book chapter forms the basis of an expert UK county report submitted to the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers as part of a 12 country EU project. The project itself was dedicated to an analysis of the theory and practice of the functioning of the Posting of Workers Directive. The key focus was on the practical experiences of compliance authorities, labour inspectors and other controlling bodies. With one of the main conclusions of the project being that the use of the posting mechanism ranges from normal and decent long-established partnership between contracting partners to completely fake letter box practices of labour-only recruitment

The Closure of LG Phillips : AMICUS reps baseline questionnaire

This report presents the first part of a three part survey of AMICUS LG Phillips trade union representatives. The survey was undertaken during the closure period of the LG Phillips plant in County Durham, AMICUS tendered Northumbria University to undertake a tracking exercise to map out the skills, current employment and trade union activities of representatives as they moved forward following the traumatic closure of the plant. The first part baseline study was administered via a postal and telephone questionnaire, with representatives also asked if they would take part in subsequent research. Only two respondents indicated that they wanted either limited or no further part in the study

Migrant Workers in the North East of England

This report is the supplementary report of the 'Organising Migrant Workers in Construction' project. It is a descriptive account of the nationality, location, sector of work and companies of migrant workers living in the North East of England. Its main aim is to begin to map migrant workers in the region providing information for unions to use for recruitment and organising campaigns. The information is drawn from a wide number of sources; in particular a direct approach was made to the community and voluntary sector, the trade union movement and employer and government sources

Organising migrant workers in construction: experience from the North East of England

This report represents the conclusion of the first stage of the Northern TUC’s programme of activity designed to raise awareness amongst trade unions and elsewhere about the growing phenomenon of migrant labour. The free movement of individuals within the European Union is a cornerstone of the European social model. However, workers who are able to exercise their right to mobility should do so without fear and exploitation. Trade unions exist to protect and safeguard the rights of workers whatever their background and wherever their countr

Undergraduate Placement Activity at Northumbria

This paper presents data from a Northumbria University Enterprise and Employability funded project, which sought the extent and nature of undergraduate placement activity at Northumbria in the 2002/2003 academic year. Data was collected through a questionnaire that was distributed via email to key contacts at the University. Data was then entered into a database that will be accessible via the University server to allow periodic updating and for practitioner information