Graduate Recruitment Scheme Costs

Dear P Chapman

I acknowledge your request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. Assuming we hold this information, I will endeavour
to supply the data to you as soon as possible but no later than 10th
December 2008 (20 working days from date of receipt).

I will advise you as soon as possible if we do not hold this information
or if there are exemptions to be considered and/or any costs for providing
the information. Please quote our reference - FOI/08/847 - in any
communication regarding this particular request.

Best regards

Jemila Dodge
Corporate Access to Information Officer, Chief Executive's Department
Kent County Council, Legal & Democratic Services, Room 1.102, Sessions
House, County Hall, Maidstone. ME14 1XQ.
Tel: 01622 696265 - Fax: 01622 694383
[1]http://www.kent.gov.uk/council-and-democ...

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Dear P Chapman

Thank you for your request for information. Please accept my apologies for
the slight delay in replying to you.

What is the cost of running a Graduate Recruitment Scheme within KCC?
Overview of the budget and a breakdown of the costs

Overall budget for the Kent Graduate Programme within KCC for 2008/9 is
£340k

Each year the spend varies due to personal training required by each
individual graduate on the Kent Graduate Programme and depending how soon
graduates find permanent positions. The spend outlined below relates to
the financial year 2007/8.

Cash Limit £297479.56
Income Received £56777.77
£354,257.33

Salaries £274,896.23

Recruitment Costs £35,772.75

Training £27,218.40

Other £16,369.95

Benefits of the Graduate Programme

- Contributes greatly into building a highly skilled, qualified
workforce
- Many of the graduates are from Kent therefore it helps provide
employment opportunities for Kent residents and helps retain graduates
within the county, many of whom may otherwise go elsewhere in the country
- The graduates time is utilised on key projects that would not
otherwise have been possible due to resource issues
- Develops a positive culture within KCC
- Graduates bringing fresh ideas into the workforce to streamline
processes and reduce costs to the taxpayer

Some examples of projects completed by graduates:

Sensory Garden
Working with the Volunteer Bureau and Kent Business Liaison, the KGPs
accepted a community challenge to develop and build a sensory garden for
the disabled in the Hextable Gardens and Heritage Centre. The challenge
involved removing concrete flooring, digging up weeds and creating a
staggered flower beds from railway sleepers, which had a path running
through them wide enough and graded enough for wheel chair access.
Disability and Discrimination Act Project
The Disability and Discrimination Act Steering Group commissioned KGP
group members to implement three aspects of the DDA Steering Group action
plan. This included researching funding options to promote compliance with
the act, producing a directory of specialist advice, aids and suppliers
and producing written access statements for every KCC site with public
access. In March 2001 a comprehensive report was produced and forwarded to
the Chair of the Equalities Group.
Young Carers website
Working with Qube Data Management, KGPs were commissioned by KCC Social
Services to create a website to provide support and information for young
carers in Kent. This involved partnership working with schools, voluntary
organisations and young carers themselves, researching content and
marketing and publicising the site.
Kent Tomorrow Conference
KGPs have organised a two-day residential conference for Year 12s from
schools across Kent, promoting higher education and graduate work
opportunities within Kent. Supported by the Kent branch of the Institute
of Directors and Kent Works, it aimed to help increase the number of
graduates returning to Kent after finishing university. This was a complex
event to organise and involved researching and inviting speakers, liaising
with schools and businesses, developing a workshop task, organising
accommodation and evening entertainment and designing delegate packs.

Europe Direct Information Relay - Ashford Gateway

KGPs are currently promoting the Europe Direct Information Relay in
Ashford Gateway. A Relay is an information point where people can find the
answers to any questions they have about the European Union - from how to
get your European Health Insurance card online to what you need to know
about expanding your business into an EU country. The KGP team have built
links with the local press, run a competition in conjunction with a local
paper, created and distributed marketing materials and organised a launch
event including a continental market, European dancing and a themed art
exhibition.

Examples of positions held by the graduates within KCC

Programme Manager, Office Transformation
Sustainable Communities Project Officer
Senior Policy Officer
Extended Schools Development Manager
Head of Public Private Partnership/ Public Finance Initiatives
Communication and Change Manager
Research and Evaluation Supervisor
Deputy Neighbourhood Manager, Hawkinge Partnership
Community Planning Officer
Projects facilitator, Social Innovation Lab for Kent
Personnel Officer
Policy Overview Officer
Ashford Gateway Manager
Project Officer, Kent Film Office and Kent TV
Performance Improvement Officer

For further information, please see our website.
[1]http://kent.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/jobs...

I hope this satisfies your request. If you have a query with the
information provided, please contact me on 01622 221652. However, if you
are unhappy with this response, and believe KCC has not complied with
legislation, please ask for a review by following our complaints process;
details can be found at this link
[2]http://www.kent.gov.uk/council-and-democ...
on our website. Please quote reference FOI/08/847.

Best regards

Caroline Dodge
Corporate Access to Information Coordinator, Chief Executive's Department
Kent County Council, Legal & Democratic Services, Room 1.102, Sessions
House, County Hall, Maidstone. ME14 1XQ.
Tel: 01622 221652 - Fax: 01622 694383
[3]http://www.kent.gov.uk/council-and-democ...

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