University Spin-off Expands to Aston Science Park

Getting more small businesses involved in university work schemes could stop the “brain drain” of bright graduates out of the area, a new recruitment agency has said.

This November will see the opening of thefutureworks, a university recruitment spin-off based in Faraday Wharf on Aston Science Park which will work largely with small businesses to find jobs for graduates.

Programmes Manager Obi Okwuadigbo said: “We decided to locate at Aston Science Park because Faraday Wharf is ideally positioned for transport links and to tap into the graduate community generated from the local universities and colleges.”

Matthew Hidderley, Marketing & Sales Manager said: “We are pleased to have attracted thefutureworks which reinforces the message that the Park is ideally placed to welcome and support new business ventures on our 65 acre campus to over 100 businesses. We are currently seeing a growing demand for flexible and quality office space with the opportunity to utilise common services such as the reception and conference facilities through to accessing excellent networking opportunities.”

Encouraging students into traditionally less fashionable small business destinations could be the way to improve the West Midlands’ poor record on graduate retention.  Mr Okwuadigbo said: “We tend to work with a lot of SMEs. I think over the years it has been the case that a lot of graduates don’t consider working for smaller firms.

A main stumbling block has been the difficulty for small businesses of being able to pay to take on graduates who might cost more money. That tends to be the main stumbling block.  If they can get help with taking someone one, they are getting someone enthusiastic and keen, but they are also getting someone for maybe half the cost that they normally would.”

Thefutureworks, which started as an offshoot of Coventry University three years ago, will be opening its Birmingham branch in November at Faraday Wharf. It plans to open up another branch next year if the Birmingham one is successful.  Although it was started as a graduate recruitment service, the level of demand meant it quickly moved into the public workforce.

Currently, about 60 per cent of customers in Coventry are from the university, with 40 per cent members of the public. The organisation said it aims to reverse that figure in Birmingham, although Mr Okwuadigbo said he was already in discussion with Birmingham and Aston universities about a link-up.

Mr Okwuadigbo said “Employers are still under the belief that graduates lack the soft skills, and to some extent I would agree with that.” But he said thefutureworks was trying to improve the situation by encouraging more students to take up placements while studying.

Denise Craig, the West Midlands policy manager for the Federation of Small Businesses, said both SMEs and graduates could benefit from each other, but neither had fully recognised the benefits yet.

Photo Caption: Obi Okwuadigbo in the Faraday Wharf atrium at Aston Science Park

Notes for Editors
For further press information please contact Matthew Hidderley at Aston Science Park on 0121 260 6168 or email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it