A scheme designed to make graduates more attractive to employers has been launched by the Department for Enterprise.

The Graduate Employability Training Programme is aimed at those who have graduated within the past two years and are currently unemployed, as well as those who are within their first six months of employment post-graduation.

It comprises a two-week intensive course that is free of charge.

Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan, who chairs the Economic Recovery Group which will fund the programme, said the content was designed after consultation with local businesses.

Mr Cannan said: ’The aim of the course is to equip recent graduates with knowledge which will support them as they enter the job market and to support SMEs (small to medium enterprises) who are able to utilise this broad range of skills that they otherwise would not hire for exclusively.

’Providing career opportunities in the Isle of Man for qualified graduates is important to ensure the island has the skills required to meet business requirements both now and in the future.’

The first course starts next month and there are 20 spaces available.

Peter Ginty, of training provider End2endacademy, said: ’Through this training programme we will look to provide graduates with practical base-level business skills knowledge, which is interchangeable throughout different sectors and roles which they may be interested in pursuing throughout their careers.

’I hope this course will act as a useful tool for recent graduates to support them as they take their first steps into employment in the Isle of Man.’

The programme is the latest development for the DfE’s ’graduate ecosystem’, which includes incentives for employers, offering local businesses 20% of the first year salary up to £6,000 and an employer National Insurance rebate for each graduate hired through supported roles.

For more information on the Graduate Employability Training Programme and to enrol on the first course, visit: www.iomdfenterprise.im