The annual Student-2-Business Networking Event (S2B) was launched in January 2008 to address local business concerns about access to talent.
The idea was to provide students the opportunity to make connections with the business community that would lead to more graduates remaining in London.
The London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) commissioned a Workforce Development Survey to identify the workforce needs of London employers. We learned that half of the responding companies had unfilled positions and 60 per cent had experienced difficulty filling those positions.
The LEDC needed to bridge the gap between employers and the bourgeoning workforce graduating each year from Western and its affiliate colleges, as well as Fanshawe College.
Business leaders attending September’s 2009 Economic Summit reiterated London’s need to act now to help Western and Fanshawe grads learn about London opportunities and help the business community connect with this rich pool of skills and talent.
Connecting with potential employees is increasingly important to local businesses and many companies have been looking at creative and non-traditional ways of attracting them. Student-2-Business creates a unique advantage where both students and companies can come together and share ideas and opportunities.
Andrew McClenaghan, president and principle owner of Echidna Solutions Corp., a web development company, says this about his experience at S2B 2008: “The Student-2-Business event offers a unique opportunity to make connections with exceptionally talented and creative students.”
McClenaghan recently hired a student he met at the Student-2-Business conference.
Info-Tech, one of London’s leading research and technology firms is a shining example of opportunity abounding in London. Ivey grad Joel McLean founded Info-Tech right out of his master’s degree and is growing his business and providing recent graduates with relevant, quality job experience. Billboards promoting job opportunities at Info-Tech Research Group can be found throughout the city.
The third annual S2B takes place Thursday, Jan. 28 at the London Convention Centre. Over 600 students are expected to attend an afternoon of workshops where they learn what London has to offer.
Over 250 business and community delegates will join for the keynote presentation, followed by the networking sessions, segregated by industry groups, where students have the chance to make connections. Many Canadian jobs are found by knowing the right people and being in the right place at the right time.
Over the last two years, there have been examples of students who found co-op opportunities, mentors, valuable introductions and ultimately jobs. Feedback from businesses indicates they have been impressed with the professionalism of the students and are looking forward to attending the 2010 event.
Dave Howlett is the 2010 keynote presenter. Howlett is renowned for his ability to teach people how to network and knock down silos.
Next Generation Consulting (NGC) recently ranked London 9th in Canada as a Top Canadian City for Young Professionals to Work and Live in.
They looked at 45 measures for all Canadian cities with populations of more than 100,000 people, looking at Earning, Learning, Vitality, Around Town, After Hours, Cost of Lifestyle and Social Capital.
“Simply being the cheapest place to live, or the city with the most jobs is not a long-term workforce strategy,” says NGC’s founder, Rebecca Ryan. Although jobs are important, Ryan says “The next generation is very savvy about choosing where they’ll live. They look carefully at quality of life factors like how much time they’re going to spend in traffic commuting, if they can live near a park or hike-and-bike trail, and whether a city’s downtown stays awake after five.”
The list ranks cities that are, or have the capacity to be, great places to live and work for the next generation, because they have the best overall score in the seven indexes the next generation values.
London is proud of its 9th place ranking of 27 Canadian cities, but looks forward to implementing new strategies to reaching the Top 5. Everything from concerts at the John Labatt Centre to new bike lanes on city streets, and new apartment buildings downtown in the entertainment district will be priorities to make London more livable for young professionals.
Come for School. Stay for Life.
Student 2 Business
Register at www.ledc.com/s2b. Register by 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18 and get entered into a draw to win an iPod Touch.
The $10 conference fee includes the full conference, buses to and from the event from Western, coat check, food and refreshments, one beverage ticket and 50 printed business cards (about 20 per cent of the true cost thanks to sponsors, including Western, Huron and King’s).
The cost for business and community reps is $40, including parking, coat check, food and refreshments, one beverage ticket, the keynote presentation and networking.
The writer is director of workforce development for the London Economic Development Commission