Grads prefer SMEs

A study out today from totaljobs.com unveils that nine out of ten graduates today would like to work for an SME. While recent research from the BIS has shown small businesses are missing out on a potential wealth of future talent through a lack of engagement with graduates,[1] the survey from totaljobs.com uncovers a willing market of untapped graduates able to compete for the 196,000[2] jobs on offer in today’s SME employment market.

Reasons why graduates would consider a job within an SME include:

– 62 percent believe that SMEs develop their workforce in a better way;

– 65 percent state that their ideas are more likely to be heard;

– 37 percent state that the company culture would suit them better.

Further, nearly a third (29 percent) of graduates believe they have the right skills for a job in an SME, this is compared to just one in ten (ten percent) believing they have the right skills set to begin a graduate entry level role in a large corporation.

Separately, a growing number of graduates are looking to set-up their own business, with over half (51 percent) stating they had considered it as a possible route after university.

Graduate Director at totaljobs.com, Mike Fetters, commented on the findings: “SMEs are missing a trick by not considering graduates as a potential pipeline of talent. With evidence suggesting that graduate recruitment to SMEs has the potential to increase management and leadership capability within the organisation as well as enhance growth in the sector, it is important that their value is considered by those looking to recruit. “The graduate market in the UK is big, with a huge variety of skills and knowledge out there – all of which can be tapped into by SMEs if they can effectively utilise the right channels out there.”