Frequently Asked Questions…

  • Unlike firms that just sell tools or reports Gradconsult acts as a partner and a connecter, building communities where graduates, employers, universities and regions thrive together.

    We have delivered international early careers development programmes, regional graduate retention projects, and consultancy with universities that all share the same golden thread – partnership. We don’t just provide solutions in isolation we connect the dots across the whole early careers’ ecosystem.

  • We design programmes where employers develop early careers talent, universities evidence impact, and graduates join peer networks. By linking these groups together, we create sustainable eco systems that benefit regional economies as well as individuals.

  • Through proprietary datasets from STP and regional projects, we track graduate development and retention over time. This allows us to evidence impact, benchmark performance, and continuously refine programmes for employers, universities and regions.

FAQs

  • Gradconsult’s Student to professional (STP) tool helps graduates build self-awareness and workplace skills, improving confidence and accelerating their transition into effective employees.

    Employers using STP report faster time-to-productivity, improved confidence and increased retention in early careers programmes.

  • By giving graduates structured development support through STP, employers lower the risk of early turnover and get stronger long term performance.

    Our data shows graduates stay longer when they have clear insight into strengths, challenges and growth pathways.

  • Unlike one-off assessments, STP combines psychometrics with workshops and resources that guide graduates ongoing development. 

    This holistic approach builds resilience and performance, so much more than just a test score.

FAQs for Early Careers Employers

  • Gradconsult helps careers teams design strategies that directly improve graduate outcomes, and KEF/TEF performance. 

    Our consultancy work aligns employability offers with institutional goals and evidence requirements. 

  • By working in partnership with Gradconsult, universities can create joined-up careers strategies that prepare students for work and improve destination data.

    We bring sector insight and external perspective to help teams move from transactional support tyo strategic influence.

  • Gradconsult helps universities connect with employers, including SMEs, to create opportunities that improve student employability and regional retention.

    Our work bridges the gap between universities and the labour market making employability offers more relevant and impactful.

FAQs for Universities

  • Gradconsult delivers retention programmes that connect SMEs and graduates into thriving local communities, strengthening skills pipelines and economic growth.

    We have delivered award winning regional graduate programmes like RISE in Sheffield, LCR Grad in Liverpool and Graduates West Yorkshire that have resulted in 100s of graduates starting and staying in local roles.

  • Gradconsult delivers retention programmes that connect SMEs, universities, and graduates into thriving local communities, strengthening skills pipelines and economic growth.

    • We have run award-winning regional projects such as Graduates West Yorkshire, which combined graduate development with SME engagement, resulting in hundreds of graduates starting and staying in local roles. 

    • By embedding graduates in peer cohorts and professional communities, we create strong social and professional ties that increase their likelihood of building long-term careers in the region. 

    • Our programmes bring together employers, universities, and civic partners, ensuring graduates see a joined-up ecosystem that supports them from student to professional. 

    • Crucially, we own longitudinal data sets from regional programmes, allowing us to track graduate outcomes and evidence what strategies actually improve retention. This means we can demonstrate not just activity, but measurable regional impact.

  • Through Gradconsult projects, SMEs access talent, training, and peer networks normally out of reach, helping them embed graduates in the local community and compete with larger firms.

    • SMEs rarely have the resources to run structured graduate schemes — our programmes provide ready-made development frameworks that make hiring and retaining graduates viable. 

    • By integrating tools like STP and tailored workshops, we help graduates adapt quickly, boosting their confidence and contribution from the outset. 

    • SMEs benefit from access to shared learning networks, where their graduates connect with peers across the region, reducing isolation and improving retention. 

    • Our programme data shows SMEs in our projects consistently report higher graduate retention rates and an improved ability to compete with larger firms for talent. With access to aggregate insights across employers, we can benchmark SME outcomes and continually refine programme design.

FAQs for Regional Funders