Northumbria alumni recruit next generation of graduate talent

Northumbria University alumni are benefitting growing their own businesses by recruiting fellow graduates through funding available via the University.

One of these businesses is Lily Ella, a designer and manufacturer of women’s clothing founded by Northumbria University Fashion graduate, Zoe Glover, four years ago. Since starting from Zoe’s kitchen table, Lily Ella has grown to employ thirteen staff and distributes over one million catalogues each year.

The business recently recruited Megan Hincks, a 2017 Northumbria University Fashion Design & Marketing graduate, as an Assistant Merchandiser through the University’s European Regional Development Fund Graduate Internship funding. 

Zoe said: “We have grown rapidly and being able to recruit Megan, a high-quality graduate, initially for six months as a Graduate Intern is really valuable to us at this stage of our development.  The support means we have an exceptionally capable graduate with excellent sector knowledge and also many transferable skills relevant to our industry”.

“Northumbria is a special place for me. I loved studying there and when I saw the opportunity to benefit my business and employ a Northumbria graduate it seemed perfect.  I remember when I left University I was grateful to my first employer for giving me the opportunity to show my skills.  Now I’m the employer, I’m really looking forward to Megan flourishing and helping Lily Ella maximise its potential."

Victor Ottaway, Graduate Internship Manager at Northumbria University, commented: “I’m delighted Zoe has appointed Megan as her Graduate Intern. Lily Ella is a great example of alumni of the University founding and running their own business and recruiting a recent graduate. We have allocated the internship funding to approximately 100 local small employers but there is still an opportunity for businesses to receive the funding and employ a recent graduate up to July 2018 with a view to retaining them longer term.”

For more information, please visit: www.northumbria.ac.uk/NEBS.