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North-east firms given top graduates

Mar 27 2009

Over 200 small businesses in the north-east will be helped in a new scheme to provide them with the expertise of university graduates.

Funding has been gained from the European Union which will create up to 200 new graduate jobs and subsidise their salaries for small businesses in the Graduates for Business programme.

Companies will be given the money for the graduates' salary and technical advice, which will allow them to expand their markets and develop new products.

Dan Brophy, chief executive officer of Entrust, which provides consultancy services to small businesses, says: 'Graduates for Business is improving businesses' performance by giving them access to the latest technical expertise at a lower cost, as well as putting local graduates on the first rung of the career ladder.'

Lesley Calder, head of European and skills strategy at One North East, states the programme will also encourage small firms to offer graduate jobs and stimulate new ideas in the workplace.

The European Regional Development Fund has issued £724,000 for the scheme, which will be used alongside the £2.35 million investment from One North East.

It follows the regional development agency securing over £500,000 in funding to help more than 300 people start their own company.

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