January 01/01/ 2010

Despite a generally bleak outlook for young UK jobseekers, there is some good news for those in the county of Kent.  GForces, the Bearsted-based web marketing company, has teamed up with several local educational establishments to kick-start its 2010 graduate placement and work experience schemes.

GForces will be working closely with the New Line Learning Academy, a modern college located in Maidstone, and Kent Works, an umbrella organisation that encompasses a number of schools in the county and offers pupils first-class work experience placements.  

Representatives from GForces are also in contact with local universities, such as the University of Kent and the University of the Creative Arts, to explore a range of additional placement opportunities, while at the same time advising course organisers on how to make their curriculum more relevant to the industry.  The exercise will help support GForces’ ongoing recruitment drive as it seeks to maintain a rapid rate of growth.

Giles Smith, GForces’ Managing Director, explained: “We’re proud to be based in Kent and want to offer employment opportunities to as many local people as possible next year.  This will not only help stem the tide of young Kentish people moving to London for work when they graduate, but it will also broaden the skill set of our youngsters and equip them for a bright future in the IT industry.

“Ultimately, we hope to offer around 20 graduate placements for school and university leavers, and a further 50 ongoing work experience opportunities on an annual basis.  This would be a real bonus for the local economy at a time when placement opportunities across the UK are in decline.” continued Smith.

Marion Ward, Business Education Advisor with Kent Works, added: “We always really appreciate this kind of input from local firms.  It allows us to offer our students a more involving and realistic educational experience and better prepares them for a place in the work force.  It helps bring the worlds of education and business together.”

 GForces and Academies partnership