# Mayor of West Yorkshire's Graduate Pilot

> Contract award record from UK public-sector procurement sources.

## Key facts

- Public buyer: [West Yorkshire Combined Authority](/buyers/west-yorkshire-combined-authority/contract-awards)
- Contract winner: Gradconsult Ltd
- Award value: £389,898
- Tender value: £389,897
- Award date: 21 August 2024
- Published: 21 August 2024
- Contract start: 3 September 2024
- Contract end: 28 August 2026
- Stage: awarded
- Procurement category: services
- Notice ID: 2b3c41d3-8ef3-45fe-8f05-3a72034c1426-779345
- OCID: ocds-b5fd17-ed741235-c094-43f2-b629-1edbda56ce2d

## Description

The objective of the pilot will be to test methods that help to bridge the gap between SME employer perspectives, to address expectations of graduates, and will support employers to access graduate talent\. Attraction and retention of graduates in the regional economy is key to maximising the economic benefits of higher education\. The pilot aims to develop tailored approaches to recruitment of graduates, addressing skills gap areas and key priority sectors, and reducing underemployment of graduates in West Yorkshire\. Additionally, it will focus on increasing diversity, particularly within SMEs, by targeting underrepresented graduates who face additional barriers to employment through universities access and participation agenda\. The pilot will create a community of graduate ambassadors that have taken part in the program, showcasing success stories and evidence of impactful interventions that helped secure employment\. It will also evaluate and make recommendations on how to attract and retain graduate talent within SMEs and other sectors and skills areas\.

## Related contract awards

- [Provision of E-Learning and Learning Management System](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-46b69c48-c6e7-4598-82ef-4927470b112e): West Yorkshire Combined Authority
- [Vodafone Network Based Internet Access](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-179b0815-40e3-4115-93dc-9518e08d5029): West Yorkshire Combined Authority
- [Evaluation of Warm Homes Wave 3 \(SHF & SHEP\)](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-f2f329c9-c560-4944-a2e8-daa396959cdd): West Yorkshire Combined Authority
- [Ashfield Graduate Talent Match project\. Ref: ADCE38C](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-1a16c03e-8b10-41c6-9b4b-16edd4644544): Nottinghamshire County Council
- [Graduate Skills Diagnostic and Recruitment Employment Training](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-a638d83b-db28-4c1a-94b7-ca5ae750694f): LEEDS TRINITY UNIVERSITY

## Source

[View the original notice on Contracts Finder](https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/2b3c41d3-8ef3-45fe-8f05-3a72034c1426-779345)