Shrewsbury College has become the first further education college in the West Midlands to become a member of the National Association of Student Employment Services (NASES) with its new job ‘one-stop shop’.

The Agency, at Shrewsbury College, improves the student experience, helps students to progress and acts as a free recruitment agency between over 600 businesses in the county and the College.

This week, the College is taking part in National Student Employment Week and launching its online job shop as well as celebrating its recognition by NASES.

By 2015, NASES is aiming to be recognised as the leading authority on student employment and increase the number and quality of jobs available to students across the UK through its members.

As part of the planned activities, a number of employers and external speakers will be visiting the College and talking to students about careers and employment routes and appointments are available for students to talk to Shropshire Youth advisers and internal staff who focus on student progression.

The online job shop, which also launches this week, is open to students and businesses are invited to place advertisements for internships, casual, full or part time positions for free. Karen Hayward, Agency Manager, said it many cases, it will be the only place a job is advertised.

“There are huge plans in the pipeline for The Agency as the College moves forward with its £15m re-development and we are thrilled to be part of NASES,” she said. “It means we will become part of a national network of ‘job shops’ for students.

“The Agency was designed to support student progression onto higher education or employment and we offer careers advice, work experience opportunities and employer projects.”

The College is developing opportunities for local employers to tap into the skills of thousands of students who are studying a range of vocational and academic courses including Motor Sport, Aeronautical Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Visual Merchandising and Retail and many more. Around 900 work experience placements are being organised by The Agency this academic year alone.

“We are building an ethos of achievement at the College and encouraging students and giving them the tools to go further than they thought they could, whether that is into further education or employment,” added Karen.

“As part of this, we are developing a person-centred approach and are seeing students work on their personalities and their approach to life. The College offers a raft of Enrichment opportunities each, Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning and 92 per cent of our students take part.”

The Agency is inviting businesses, across a range of sectors, to get in touch with any roles they may have from work-experience to full, part-time or casual roles. Or, if they are looking for an Apprentice or to fill a graduate level position the College can put forward students aged 16 and above.

For more information on The Agency, or discuss any employment opportunities you may have, please call Karen Hayward and her team on 01743 34264.