Why should you hire a graduate?

WHY SHOULD YOU HIRE A GRADUATE? Because they are a Catalyst, of course!

The Catalyst programme, a placement scheme run by Sussex Innovation to support University of Sussex graduates, is entering its eighth year. Project Manager Kelly McDonald, a former Catalyst Team member herself, shares the benefits of the programme, for graduates and clients alike

The Catalyst programme hires graduate and placement students straight out of the University of Sussex and makes them readily available as a riskfree and resource-light way for scaling businesses to hire on a flexible basis. The projects they support can range from sales and marketing, to CRM and fundraising support – anything that needs a dedicated pair of hands.

Having come through Catalyst myself, the benefits of the programme from a graduate perspective have been entirely

When we were struggling to cope with our own in-house work we asked Catalyst to step in and help. Jamila was nothing short of brilliant from start to finish. She has implemented shopping across all of our channels and has given us a fresh new look. We are very pleased with the work she has done and would recommend Catalyst as a service Stuart Morris, Hippy Clothing Co. evident to me. The wealth of experience we gain from the variety of clients that we work with, combined with the scope of projects we get involved in is a truly invaluable opportunity, and one that is unique.

It has been common over the years for the Catalyst team to attract students who aren’t entirely sure what direction they want to take their career in. It offers a sort of year-long ‘taster session’ for different departments and industries. Our team often feels far more certainty about where their skills lie, and how they want to use them by the end of their time on the programme, nearly always securing a permanent professional role ahead of leaving us. Last year’s team has gone on to land themselves the start of a career in PR, research, marketing and law – just to name a few.

As I have stepped into my role as Project Manager, the benefit of the Catalyst team from a client perspective has become even more evident to me. Clients not only express how useful our service and the tailored nature of the business model is, but also of their gratitude for the enthusiasm and dedication of our team.

It goes to show how vivacious graduates are. Coming straight out of university, they have their finger on the pulse, they are eager to succeed and they offer a fresh perspective. They have purposefully chosen to join the Catalyst team to take advantage of the richness of experience it offers –

to any new client. Whether that be in the food industry, in PR, in property – it’s likely that whilst our team may not be experienced in this field, they are passionate about it and interested in it. Passion and fresh perspective go a long way.

Want to shake up and energise your business? Hire a graduate! Need someone to take the administrative yet important work off your hands, so that you can focus on the bigger picture? Hire a graduate!

Our incoming Catalyst Team eight is joining us throughout August and September. The year ahead for us is incredibly exciting and we can’t wait to see the team flourish with their clients, making valuable connections and providing support to our business community. If this interests you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Visit www.catalyst.sinc.co.uk.

“Catalyst has been a great discovery and if you are a small business or team it offers a simple way to dip your toe into employing extra help. GOOD KOFFEE gained a valuable and enthusiastic member of the Catalyst team, Isthiak, who helped us engage our successful crowdfunding campaign. I’d be keen to explore the team’s wider potential and see how it can help us further.” Chris Crocker, GOOD KOFFEE

meaning they are keen to get involved in as much as possible.

The energy that hiring a graduate can inject into any business is undeniable. We hire based on character and drive, rather than degree or business experience. We aim to hire a group of individuals with a range of different interests, so that the team is broad and diverse.

Diversity is important for several reasons. One being it means we usually have a team member who will be suited