Press Releases

Uni placement project firm favourite with local businesses

Release Date : 09 February 2010

This summer, local businesses once again have the fantastic opportunity to employ highly skilled and motivated students, via the 2010 Summer Enterprise Experience & Discovery scheme (SEED).

Run by the University of Reading's Careers Advisory Service, SEED provides local organisations with welcome additional resources while offering valuable paid summer work experience for students.

Companies, organisations and not for profit charities take on students for eight weeks over the summer to work on a specific project. Placements see students work on jobs within their skilled area. Local businesses profit from access to bright, enthusiastic undergraduates, who are able to dedicate their time and skills to strategic projects of lasting benefit to the company.

Last Summer, Reading student Emma Lovett worked with Alexandra Road Community Day Nursery. Emma submitted a fundraising bid on behalf of the nursery, which resulted in a £15,000 council grant being awarded for the development of a new garden and play area for the children.

Caroline Thoyts, Nursery Manager said: "The upgraded play area has enabled us to provide a safer, more stimulating environment for the children's care and education, and the children's reactions to the constant improvements has been amazing. The nursery has benefited so much from this project. I would urge organisations to get involved now."

Also last year, Berkshire-based WebBrick Systems took on second-year cybernetics student Simon Hughes. The company recently offered Simon a full-time job after he graduates this year, which he has accepted.

John Guyatt, Managing Director of WebBrick Systems said of SEED: "Simon's aptitude and capability helped bring real value to our Research & Development operation.  He was a serious contributor to a Proof of Concept project for a PLC which turned into a major development contract for WebBrick, with strong product revenues coming our way in 12 months time. With this development work about to start in March, we would like Simon to return after he graduates to become a development engineer."

Emma Sowden, Employability Projects Manager at the University of Reading's Careers Service said: In this current economic climate, students across the UK know they face tough challenges after they graduate. Therefore students participating in SEED are dedicated, skilled and keen to learn. Last year all of our SEED students were full of energy and passion for their projects and greatly appreciated by their hosts.

"We are looking forward to running SEED again this year. With backing from the University's Alumni Office we will offer 20 local small & medium sized enterprises and charities a £450 bursary towards supporting their own SEED projects.  SEED is a fantastic opportunity for students to apply their academic experience and transferable skills while gaining valuable work experience in the local community."

If you are involved in a local business or charity and are interested in becoming involved in the SEED project this year please contact Emma Sowden on 0118 378 8354, e-mail e.l.sowden@reading.ac.uk

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For all media enquiries please contact James Barr, University of Reading Press Officer on 0118 378 7115 or by email on j.w.barr@reading.ac.uk