Targets and expenditure on YellowBrick project (FOI)

​​Request

A.

How much was spent by the Economic Development department on YellowBrick.je?

B.

When the tender was published?

C.

Who won the tender?

D.

What the targets for the project are (in comparison to the other States of Jersey backed 'jobs' programs)?

E.

Why, if it's a States backed project, does the SoJ logo appear on print adverts but not the website itself?

F.

How many graduates and employees have signed up so far (as of the submission of this request)?

Response

A.

The cost for YellowBrick.je, specifically, was £13,598.75. The total expenditure for the whole Yellow Brick initiative to 31 July 2015 is £56,906.50 (£22,946.93 of which was spent in 2014).

B.

There was no requirement for a formal tender, as the branding, website development and promotional marketing were supplied by one of the Department’s suppliers appointed following a tender process in accordance with the States of Jersey procurement policy.

C.

Please refer to the answer to question B.

D.

Yellow Brick has been designed to facilitate paid internships for recent graduates and postgraduates to gain experience and professional skills within a range of organisations in the private, public and third sectors in Jersey.

The aim of the programme is to increase the value of the island’s graduate talent pool by providing them with the opportunity to:

• earn a salary
  
• attain requisite experience/professional qualifications to undertake their respective job role
  
• secure a minimum three month contract
  
• gain a structured, challenging and meaningful taster of industry
  
• get a ‘foot in the door’ to potential future opportunities
  
• apply their education within a ‘real world’ context
  

The programme offers the following benefits for island businesses:

• assistance from a skilled graduate in project work
  
• free recruitment: access to high calibre candidates
  
• improving the perception and raising the profile of job opportunities within Economic Growth and Diversity Strategy target sectors in the island
  
• corporate social responsibility: the opportunity for local organisations to introduce graduates to the professional opportunities available in Jersey
  

Although the internships may lead to permanent positions being offered, the primary purpose of the scheme is to improve the skills of graduates rather than to directly provide employment.

In terms of targets for the overall project, the aim was to create 30 internships.

E.

The branding and website design were developed to avoid confusion with the States of Jersey employment schemes.

F.

Total number of graduate enquiries, with application paperwork sent out is 45, plus enquiries from undergraduates and those who graduated a number of years ago.

Current number of registered interns is ten.

Total number of employer enquiries 30

Current number of employers signed up 14

Total number of live roles is ten, with others being finalised

Roles cover the following sectors:

Estate and property management, fitness, hospitality, IT, construction, consultancy, engineering, farming, media, transport and not for profit organisations.

Three internships confirmed, with the possibility of two becoming permanent, with a further four graduates securing permanent roles following CV and interview support provided under the Yellow Brick initiative. Two further interviews with prospective employers confirmed, and awaiting confirmation of a further one.

Two graduates have declined role offers.