smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Smaller firms have difficulties attracting top university leavers because they do not have the pulling power of large companies, employment specialists have claimed.

The Graduate Recruitment Bureau (GRB) says that many small firms would like to add high-calibre graduates to their ranks but are unable to because of their reputation.

Commenting on the battle for graduate labour, Dan Hawes at the GRB says: 'Graduate schemes are definitely more popular with very large multi-national firms that have the resources to offer a very defined career path and have the experience and the brand awareness to attract a high number of people. Smaller firms tend to advertise on an ad-hoc basis.'

He added: 'Small businesses like to be able to invest in their future by training graduates who can be managers further down the line, but in terms of cost, it’s high and the resources and the commitment are very high also.'

According to an Association of Graduate Recruiters survey, graduate vacancies are set to increase by 12.7 per cent next year - the fourth consecutive annual rise.