Career Opportunities in SMEs

If you’re a student nearing the end of your degree, chances are that Accenture , Procter & Gamble , Unilever , Pricewaterhouse Coopers and dozens more multinationals like them have already been trying to entice you with promises of an illustrious career and a hefty salary. It’s flattering (if sometimes overwhelming) to be sweet-talked by the majority of the FTSE 100 companies, all jostling online and at careers fair to snap up the brightest and most ambitious graduates. But before you get started on those 10-page application forms, consider the alternatives! Is the big smoke really for you?

In 2005, 99.3% of UK businesses had less than 50 staff. These small and medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are now increasing becoming the source for many graduate careers. So if small businesses have so many graduate jobs to offer, then how do you hear about them and are you aware of them?

Graduates for Growth (GfG) is a niche provider of graduate talent in Scotland for Small and Medium-sized Enterprsies (SMEs). Developing strong alliances with the nation's universities GfG has been abled to promote the advantages of employing graduates to the SMEs, thereby generating demand for graduates within Scotland’s business community. With a database of over 5,000 clients actively recruiting graduates, Graduates for Growth’s small but specialist team of 3 project managers proactively place over 600 graduates a year.

Graduates for Growth Managing Director, Lorna Pellet, state “Working for a small company can be an immense advantage for those unsure of their career destiny. Reassuringly, the majority of our SMEs don’t mind what degree discipline their graduate recruits have, although 77% of our graduates do feel that their degree is relevant to their job. In many cases our graduates have taken on several roles in SMEs - for example, a graduate marketing officer could also be in charge of buying office equipment and also take on PR duties.”

Working for a small business can mean long hours, some donkey work, and a certain degree of jealousy towards friends earning more on a big-name graduate scheme. But it’s also an increasingly attractive option to graduates keen to build their own career paths make a real impact on their place of work.  Graduates working in SMEs also have more opportunities to voice their own ideas and shape company practices and procedures.

Susan Macaferty a Hospitality and Tourism graduate explains explains: “I went straight from uni to working for an SME through Graduates for Growth and the choice was by far the best for career experience; it provided an amazing amount of opportunities and responsibility.” Suzie is now the International Development Director and Co owner of Smart Cartridge; the ink cartridge refilling retail franchise. Responsible for daily management of UK and international franchise operations Suzie's mix of customer care, franchising knowledge and sharp business acumen has helped her achieve a unique position as a successful young woman in the male dominated world of franchising. She started franchising the business in 2001 and now has 60 stores in 5 countries including UK, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and the Dominican Republic.

For students, rumours of low pay and lack of a formal career path can make career opportunities in SMEs look unappealing. However, despite lower starting salaries, Graduates for Growth reassuringly state that 95% of their graduates are strongly entrepreneurial, satisfied with their career and in the future would consider setting up their own business.  Passionate about the graduate issues Graduates for Growth recognises the importance of supporting their graduates they have place by providing them with a mentor, financial consultations, networking and training and development allowing graduate to ensure they have a sustainable career path for the future.

If a daily commute to London and working with hundreds of colleagues you will never meet is not for you, why not contact GfG to find out more about the enterprising career opportunities they have to offer.              

GfG helpline: 0131 226 3775                                      

Website:      www.graduatesforgrowth.co.uk

By Emily Dickson