Lancaster University is in the top ten universities for employment after graduation according to figures from the Higher Education Statistical Agency.
In total, over 94 per cent of graduates from 2010/11 were in a job or further study six months after graduation, above the benchmark figure from Hesa of 91 per cent.
This places Lancaster University sixth out of all universities in the UK for the proportion of graduates who have found work in this period.
The overall list is led by vocational institutions like the Institute of Education and the School of Pharmacy.
Tara McLaughlin, Acting Director of the Careers, Employabiity and Enterprise Centre (CEEC) at Lancaster University said she was pleased.
She said: “I think this good result is partly due to The Lancaster Award, which prepares students for the job market by ensuring they develop the skills employers want, whether through work experience, volunteering or community activities.
“It is one of the many ways in which we prepare our students as much as possible for the world of work.”
Lancaster graduate David Hough has secured a job with IBM after completing the Lancaster Award.
He said: “It prepared me to start my career, and the daunting task of applying for jobs. The Lancaster Award played a vital part in my successful employment with IBM.”
Caroline Parkinson, HR Manager for BSKYB helped interview students for the Lancaster Award.
She said: “Without exception all the students we interviewed were of a very high calibre and they are certainly potential candidates for our graduate programmes.”
One graduate to have completed the Lancaster Award is Rosy Washbrook who has completed a Masters in Management.
She has been accepted onto the Tesco graduate training scheme alongside graduate Sam Dorrington.
Both Rosy and Sam worked in the Lancaster University Students’ Union shop to gain valuable experience, one of many job opportunities available on campus.
Sam said: “I enjoyed having the autonomy to make my own decisions, and having influence over policy. For instance I was trusted to write the staff handbook alongside my manager. I’m now looking forward to a new challenge, meeting new people and progressing my career.”
One former LUSU student member of staff was even offered a place on two graduate training schemes – Asda and British Aerospace – while others have gone on to work in a media agency, recruitment agency and another has started her own business.
In total this year, ten students who have worked in the LUSU campus shops alongside their studies have found jobs on competitive graduate training schemes, including the Civil Service, British Aerospace, KPMG and Barclays.
LUSU Retail Manager Alison Cooke said “This year, in particular, has been a great year for students who have worked in LUSU Retail and we are immensely proud of their achievements. Not only have staff moved on to some amazing graduate schemes but also secured some outstanding career opportunities in their chosen fields.”