Release Date 28 February 2013

A new online tool dedicated to helping students seeking work placements and graduate employment within the life sciences industry has been launched today.

Thanks to the University of Reading and the Biopharma Skills Consortium (BSC)¹, students can readily access advice on how to make stronger applications for work placements and employment. The website will also improve students' understanding of the industrial environment and highlight how to make a rapid impact when starting a new job.

The new resource is timely as a High Fliers report released in January 2013 found that a third of jobs will be filled by graduates who have already spent time at a company, through work experience or industrial placements during their degree.

Dr Orla Kennedy, Associate Dean Science (Teaching and Learning), from the University of Reading, which leads the BSC, said: "The recent High Fliers report shows just how important work placements are for securing graduate employment. This website allows students access to audio clips that provide insights in to working in the bioscience sector and contains guided web links to useful web sites and training materials."

The online tool is the concept of the Biopharma Skills Consortium which comprises seven universities from across the south-east. The resources form part of the BSC's on-going commitment to addressing the skills needs of the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors; the BSC encourages STEM students and staff across the UK to use these resources in their placement and employment preparation.

Dr James Gazzard, Professor of Workforce Futures at the University of East Anglia (formerly The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, BSC Board representative) added "in a globally competitive job market university students and recent graduates need support to help them to effectively engage with employers. It is vital that universities develop platforms to support students to articulate their skills, particularly higher level competences gained through work placements"

ENDS

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

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Notes for editors:

The University of Reading maintained its excellent graduate employability results in 2012 above sector average, with 92% of its graduates describing themselves as being in work, voluntary or unpaid work or further study. These figures show that Reading is above the sector average.

The University of Reading is ranked among the top 1% of universities in the world (THE World University Rankings 2012) and is one of the UK's top research-intensive universities.

¹ The Biopharma Skills Consortium comprises seven universities in the South East of England; members are the University of Reading, University of Surrey, University of Kent, University of Portsmouth, University of Brighton, the Royal Veterinary College and the Open University.