19.11.07
Hundreds meet their future

The second Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) Graduate Careers Fair – Meet Your Future 2007 – took place on 14th November at the Tremough Campus, Penryn, attracting around 800 talented students and graduates from across Cornwall. Over fifty exhibitors also travelled from across Cornwall and the UK, attracted by the reputations and specialisms of the colleges and universities which make up the CUC partnership, to recruit graduates and gain the interest of those graduating in the near future.

International and national companies such as Barclays Bank Plc, Fugro Seacore, BG Group, The BBC and West Pharmaceutical Services lined up alongside a wide range of Cornish businesses, to offer their selection of graduate vacancies and training schemes. The strong Cornish contingent highlighted the increasing opportunities within Cornwall for graduate employment with well known names like Worldwide Financial Planning, Stephens & Scown, TRAC Services and Ginsters.

Ben Simpson from Newquay, a Minerals Engineering graduate of Camborne School of Mines, was delighted to be returning to Tremough – this time to exhibit at the fair and recruit fellow graduates. Ben was employed by SGS Minerals Services, based at Wheal Jane, after completing his studies and explained: “It was great for me to be able to study locally and then to find a job based in Cornwall, straight from university. And from the fantastic response we have had today, it is obvious that many people are keen to do the same - in fact we’ve been swamped all day. We will definitely be back next year.”

The vibrant creative skills sector in Cornwall was well catered for at the event with a number of agencies on hand to give advice and guidance including the Crafts Council, Hidden Art and Cornwall Design Forum. Given the large proportion of self-employed business people and entrepreneurs in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, information for business start-ups was also provided by organisations including Business Relations at University College Falmouth and Business Link.

CUC Executive Director, Dr Ian Tunbridge, was pleased with the feedback from the fair, commenting: “It was extremely encouraging to hear from the exhibitors how well prepared the students and graduates were and how highly they rated the event. The unique model of higher education and high calibre of skills and knowledge being generated across Cornwall is rightly valued by employers, who recognise the huge wealth of expertise available to them here. I have absolutely no doubt that next year’s event will be even bigger again.”

For further information please contact Emma Stallard, CUC PR and Communications Officer, Combined Universities in Cornwall on 01326 259908/07896 042524 or email emma.stallard@cuc.ac.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) project, both Phase 1 and Phase 2, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF).

Editor's notes:

The Combined Universities in Cornwall is a dynamic and visionary partnership that is one of the driving forces behind Cornwall’s economic renaissance. This partnership combines the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, University College Falmouth, The Open University, The College of St Mark & St John, and the Peninsula Medical School, with Cornwall’s Further Education colleges - Cornwall College, Truro College and Penwith College. It aims not only to provide the students of the future with more choice and greater opportunities, but also to boost the economic fortunes of the region for the benefit of one and all.

The CUC initiative has been invested in by the Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the South West Regional Development Agency, Cornwall County Council and the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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