A unique work experience scheme targeting the region’s small and medium sized businesses is underway in Aberdeen.
Small and medium sized businesses (SMEs), including the third sector and social enterprises, can now engage with Talent Exchange, a new initiative which provides opportunities to access the skills and knowledge of Robert Gordon University (RGU) students in ways that are tailored to the specific needs of an organisation.
Established with funding from the Scottish Funding Council, Talent Exchange is designed to offer flexible ways of working with a business to meet its need including one-off challenges, short-term projects and placements of varying lengths.
The initiative, which is partnering with SCDI, FSB Scotland and the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, is aimed at organisations looking for help with a specific business challenge such as website development, events, design, photography, corporate social responsibility policy, IT solutions or a marketing strategy.
Yvonne Cook, project manager for Talent Exchange who is based at RGU, says: “Talent Exchange is a new initiative which aims to make it easy for SMEs to engage with RGU and to provide valuable work related experience opportunities for students which are tailored to the specific needs of a business.
“SMEs which have a specific business challenge ranging from marketing to IT to analysis, and either lack resources, time or specialist knowledge to solve it, now have the opportunity to flexibly access a pool of new talent which can bring specialist skills and fresh perspectives.
“RGU is a distinctive university for employability and has an established track record in industry engagement and so understands the specific needs of businesses.
“Talent Exchange facilitates easy access to the university and the skills and knowledge of RGU students who can put their learning into action to help a business grow.”
A number of SMEs have already engaged with Talent Exchange including Wait For You Ltd, a local bar and waiting staff recruitment company, which was looking for help with the social media aspect of its marketing strategy.
Donna Maver, director of Wait For You Ltd, says: “My experience of working with Talent Exchange was very positive and we certainly felt supported from the start and throughout the process.
“We were looking for support with our social media and we were very impressed with the knowledge and skills of our student who exceeded our expectations.
“As a small business time constraints are an issue but the student managed his set targets very well and built up all of our social media channels himself which now play a key role in promoting our business to our target audiences.”
For more information on Talent Exchange, visit www.rgu.ac.uk/talentexchange or to talk to a member of the project team about a work related experience please email talentexchange@rgu.ac.uk or call 01224 262046.
Talent Exchange is currently seeking projects for third year Management students to get involved with to put their learning into action and help a business grow. More information on the opportunity is available at www.rgu.ac.uk/news/can-we-help-you-solve-a-business-challenge