Newsletter

On the 1^st August 1759 our brave Yorkshire regiments left the battlefields of Germany and picked white flowers from the surrounding bushes as a tribute to their fallen pals. Yorkshire Day is celebrated on this date every year to recognise how fantastic Yorkshire really is!

This year we upped our Yorkshire Day celebrations, handing out a whopping 1,000 badges to graduates, businesses and the good folk on the streets of Sheffield.

We hope you found your own way to celebrate our great and glorious county and show some Yorkshire pride.

If you've not had a chance to check out our Yorkshire Day video yet have a look here. Produced with a little help from a former Sheffield Hallam Student and the nice people at Sheffield Hallam Students Union, it's a great look at exactly why we all love Yorkshire so much!

A recent survey from the National Council for Work Experience shows two-thirds of students and graduates are feeling undervalued or exploited by employers in the current economic climate.

If you can afford to spend a few weeks volunteering with a relevant company great - but don't let them take you for a ride. Here are our tips for making sure whatever you're doing, you're taking a step in the right direction towards a paid graduate level job and making the most of the opportunities you have right now.

Do ask if they can cover your expenses such as travel costs and lunch.

Do work it around paid employment. There are plenty of charity and voluntary organisations crying out for help in all areas, from working with children to developing IT networks and fundraising, which can fit around your schedule.

Do ask if they have any paid vacancies while you're there or if any are likely to come up in the future.

Do ask if they have any contacts they can put you in touch with.
Do take the opportunity to ask people working in the company how they got their jobs and if they have any advice for you.

Don't spend months with them doing the job of a paid employee - that's exploitation.

Don't do anything you're unsure or not happy about. If you're not very familiar with the company and they turn out to be a bit dodgy, leave.

Don't neglect your job hunt. Get into a routine of spending a day a week browsing all the relevant job sites, doing job applications and making speculative applications to companies.

You're going to be hearing loads about Internships over the next few months. Here's some great information published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills giving you the low down on what you should expect from an Internship and what your rights are.

Should people doing internships be paid?

Yes, if their work would otherwise be performed by a paid member of staff. Under the National Minimum Wage Act 1998, if someone is a "worker" - ie they are under a contract - they must be paid at least the minimum wage, regardless of their job title.

If that is the case, why are so many people working for free?

Employers can use "volunteers" who may not have any form of contract. Under section 44 of the 1998 act, they are not classed as workers and therefore not covered by the act. The exemption was designed to allow people to work for free for charities.

What about students on work experience placements?

Students are exempt if doing work experience as part of their studies, if the experience does not exceed one year. In addition, if someone on work experience is merely "shadowing" a worker, they do not qualify for the minimum wage.

The guys down in Westminster have announced the Government will pay for hundreds of recent graduates to go on gap year trips around the world.

The scheme with Raleigh International will see graduates working on development projects across the globe, such as building schools and improving sanitation.

The idea is that it will give graduates a chance to develop essential skills for work like leadership and teamwork, making them more employable on their return to the UK.

Around 500 graduates will benefit from the scheme intended to help those from poorer backgrounds who would otherwise be unable to benefit from the opportunities a gap year can bring. If you're interested you will be expected to raise £1,000 yourself and pay for your own flights and vaccinations for the trip, which would normally cost about £3,000 per person.

Keep an eye out for the official project launch in the press this week!

You can now follow Graduates Yorkshire on twitter! It's a great way to keep updated on all the best new jobs and careers events across the region, as well as finding out what really goes on behind the scenes in the Graduates Yorkshire office. Follow us here or find us by searching for GradYorks.

Become a fan on Facebook and you'll get to know what's going on in the region first! We'll be keeping our fan page up to date with all the best careers fairs happening in Universities across Yorkshire. We'll also be using the page to promote competitions and incentives throughout the year as well as all the gossip on our new internship scheme due to launch at the end of the month!

Become a fan on Facebook now!

With Yorkshire day over for another year we're sure your love for our great county is at an all time high! So why not show off the pride with a fab made in "Yorkshire" T-shirt?

Priced at a bargain £12 + p&p our t-shirts are top quality and come in a range of colours and styles. Find out how you can get your hands on one here.