 Nexus has launched its first ever graduate development programme to attract the very best skills from around the UK and Europe. Nexus, who plan and promote local public transport and operate Metro, has started the programme to find the best people to help to take the organisation forward and overcome the wider growing skills shortage. Nexus will be looking to recruit graduates into the development programme every year and the next intake will be in September 2009. The programme has got underway with four graduates from Newcastle University joining Nexus. Two are working at Metro’s operational base in Gosforth in Newcastle and the other two are based at the Nexus head office in Newcastle city centre. Mark Shield, 22, of North Shields, is working in Metro’s communications and signalling section. Mark Whitaker, 21, who hails from Leeds, is based in the Metro Maintenance section. Meanwhile, Tom Clarke, 21, of Skipton in North Yorkshire, is working in the Nexus finance department and Tom Hardwick, 23, from Sheffield, is based with the Nexus Transport Planning team. The graduates will carry out a series of different placements over the next two years through a programme that Nexus intends to have formally accredited by the relevant professional institutes. During the two years they will also be working towards an appropriate postgraduate qualification. The aim is that by the end of the scheme they will be in a position to assume the responsibilities of a senior professional or a junior managerial position. With further experience they should be able to develop into middle management positions within the organisation. All graduate development will be competency based and accredited by the relevant professional institutes. Each programme is designed for the graduates to achieve chartered status within their chosen discipline early in their careers. Human Resources Director for Nexus, David Bartlett, said: “The introduction of a graduate development programme will ensure that we continue to have a workforce capable of rising to our long term challenges. “Recruiting our first group of graduate trainees is a key milestone in delivering this and I’m delighted to welcome them to the organisation. “We see this programme as vital at a time when Nexus and Metro are embarking on a period of fundamental and rapid change. The demands of our stakeholders will only rise as we are required to deliver Metro Re-invigoration and maximise the new opportunities that we will have through the Local Transport Bill.” Nick Keeley, Director, Newcastle University Careers Service, said: “Newcastle University is totally committed to encouraging and supporting the region’s economic development and a large percentage of our graduates are very keen to stay in the North East. “So, for a major regionally-based organisation like Nexus to employ four of our new graduates in their first graduate development programme is great news. We look forward to working with them over the coming years help ensure the success of the programme.” Any graduates or undergraduates who want to find out more about the Nexus Graduate Development Programme should get in contact the Nexus Management Development Manager Bill Collingwood on 0191 203 3051. The photograph of the new graduate trainees shows, left to right, are Tom Clarke, Tom Hardwick, Mark Whitaker and Mark Shield.
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