University of Wolverhampton boosts economic growth

The Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) Survey is a national audit of everyone who has recently graduated from university or HE college in the UK.

Each year universities, on behalf of the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), contact graduates six months after they have completed their studies to find out their employment status.

Overall, 94 per cent of students who graduated from the University of Wolverhampton in 2013 are in work or further study after they leave - a four per cent increase on the previous year.

University of Wolverhampton graduates contribute to the local economy with 76 per cent working in the West Midlands region.

The survey showed 75 per cent were working in graduate level jobs (professional/managerial) earning graduate level salaries – 60 per cent of our graduates reported earnings of £15-30,000 with 22 per cent earning salaries of between £30-60,000.

Scores of our students have also gone on to set up their own businesses. Since July 2012 SPEED Plus, a University scheme created to support graduate start-ups, has helped create 168 new businesses.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, Professor Geoff Layer, said: “We are really proud of the achievement and the results are further testament to the fact that more of our students are completing their degrees and graduating and even more on going onto to get jobs.

“For me these results demonstrate that our graduates contribute to the local economy and to economic regeneration, bring skills and knowledge making them attractive to employers, get good jobs that are well paid and show that they are enterprising and innovative by being able to start up new businesses.

“It is vital as a University we play a central part in economic growth, raising skills and aspirations and helping wealth creation in the region.

“We have put a lot of effort it to making sure our graduates have the right skills and training to make them employable and work ready but more than that we have worked hard to create opportunities for our students.

“That not only includes internships the University runs but we try to ensure more and more that our partners, suppliers and stakeholders can offer work experience, placements, internships or apprenticeships to our students too.”

Dean of Students, Jon Elsmore, said: “The work we do with students is very much focused on getting them into a career rather than just a job so we’re very pleased at the figures which show that three-quarters of our graduates go on to get graduate-level jobs with graduate-level salaries.

“We have made big strides in the last two years in developing our careers and employment services by increasing our links with both regional and national employers, investing in new facilities and in our students.

“It is also important to us that when a student graduates that isn’t the end of the relationship. Even after that point we have a dedicated team which works with them to provide support and guidance to help them get that first foot on the career-ladder.”

Last year the survey showed that 90 per cent of the University’s graduates were in employment or further study six months after graduation.

ENDS

For more information please contact James Allen in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322003

Date Issued: Thursday 3 July 2014