FDM Group Speaks Out Against Impact of £9,000 Top-up Fees

Online, June 9, 2011 (Newswire.com) - It was revealed this week that more English Universities than expected are planning top up fees of £9,000, according to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The average fee planned by Universities is set to be £8,765, compared to the government estimation of £7,500.

And although unemployment among under-25s fell by 30,000 in the first quarter of 2011, recent figures released by the Office for National Statistics revealed that one in five graduates remained unemployed in the last year.

So not only are future graduates facing the prospect of poor financial health, but the aim behind their University education may not be justified.

The battle is only exaggerated within the IT industry as graduates studying computer related subjects will often leave University without the practical skills needed to succeed in the field.

FDM Group Testing trainee Simeon Rose said, "When I left University with a Computer science degree, although I had studied Testing on an academic level, I lacked the practical training needed to work within the field."

The majority of blue-chip companies recruiting for IT roles also require a minimum of two years commercial experience and only 7% of these firms take on IT graduates direct from University.

Not only could these facts deter future graduates from the field, which is already facing a skills shortage, but IT graduates who are subjected to increased top up fees and are unable to find suitable employment will inevitably suffer.

The UK's largest IT graduate employer, FDM Group, has spoken out against graduate prospects within the industry and is dedicated to bridging the gap between Academia and employment for graduates.

The rapidly expanding company has launched over 2,500 graduate careers to date and aims to recruit 1,000 candidates this year alone.

FDM Chief Operating Officer, Sheila Flavell, said, "At FDM we understand the battle the 'lost generation' of graduates is facing and nowhere is this more apparent than within the IT industry. We hope that these latest tuition fees won't deter prospective students from higher education or pursuing a career within the IT industry."

The company's two-year programme provides graduates with the industry centred training needed to branch into the field and places trainees within one of the company's 200 blue-chip clients for two years.

Not only do graduate trainees receive a competitive salary throughout this time, ensuring financial stability, but employees will also leave the programme with the skills and experience needed to break into the industry.

To further support IT graduates, FDM is offering those with an interest in the industry the chance to benefit from a series of free taster sessions which will give graduates a clear insight into the field.

ENDS

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For more information and high res images please contact Sheira Gorris at [email protected]