The Graduate Apprentice

Launched in 2006 and now searching for its 6th success story, the Graduate Apprentice is unique to Birmingham, with one recent graduate given the opportunity to experience three diverse working environments within the professional and business services sector in Birmingham.

Managed by Birmingham Future’s Talent Retention and Development (TRaD) Committee, in conjunction with Graduate Advantage, the programme identifies an exceptional recent graduate and offers them a uniquely structured, twelve month salaried placement. It provides the graduate with vital experience, enhancing their CV and improving their job opportunities whilst giving them an invaluable insight into the professional and business services sector. Moreover, the Graduate Apprentice has unrivalled opportunity to network with the city’s other young professionals and discover the vibrant lifestyle Birmingham offers.

Through its promotional campaign across varied media, the scheme also raises awareness of the range of graduate career opportunities on offer in Birmingham. The scheme celebrates its 6th year with 2007’s Graduate Apprentice, Jason Norris, now chairing the Talent and Retention Committee, the very people who found him. Jason was drawn to Birmingham by the scheme and his professional progress can be mapped in conjunction with its development.

The Graduate Apprentice 2010 is Richard Price, a 21 year old graduate originally from Walsall. Richard achieved a 2.1 honours degree from Loughborough University and became the fifth Graduate Apprentice, impressing the three employers and the TRaD Committee alike with his enthusiasm for the role, and the desire to learn more about the Birmingham business community. Richard came through a stringent application and interview process and saw off high calibre competition from local graduates, as well as applicants from across the UK and abroad, such is the now international recognition of the scheme.

During his year, Richard will spend four months each with accountancy firm Deloitte, Glide Utilities (where he will be working with BYPY 2010 Winner James Villarreal), and investment management firm  Brewin Dolphin. When asked what his appointment meant to him, Richard commented “I did not want to be someone who made an uninformed decision and accepted any Graduate position and then stayed in it simply because my qualifications were in that area. I wanted to be sure that the career that I embarked on was one that I enjoyed and had passion for.  The Apprentice programme is a unique opportunity to do that, and to drive my own career forward.”

The search for the Graduate Apprentice 2011 has began and further details about the scheme can be found at www.thegraduateapprentice.co.uk.