Practitioner research project – Career pathways for graduates into the voluntary/community sector

1. Practitioner research project – Career pathways for graduates into the voluntary/community sector Fiona Christie Careers consultant – University of Manchester Fiona.christie@manchester.ac.uk

2. My agenda • Background and aims of research • Initial planned outcomes • Review of literature/relevant context • Methods and progress so far

3. Aim of research (original proposal) • To build a detailed picture of the nature and range of opportunities for graduates (including specific graduate entry programmes) into the voluntary and community sector with a particular focus on management and administration roles (including fundraising, marketing and communications, HR, finance).

4. Background rationale for aim • Specialist responsibility for the voluntary sector for 7 years now -involved interviewing and doing regular talks on the subject as well as directing our Kaleidoscope careers Fair • “Missing link” between the aspirations of graduates and opportunities available. • Commitment of the many students I have met who would like to work in the sector. • Voluntary sector does not offer clear and accessible pathways into employment. The number of paid opportunities that are specifically targeted at students and graduates are tiny. • Particularly the case in management and administration roles, whereas for students who may have a clearer vocational objective, e.g. social work, - things may be more straightforward. • This applies across the board from super-charities to very small ones. The careers literature for the sector is limited and reflects the patchy and varied ways into the sector.

5. Background - Blame the messenger! • “I think that university careers services should include a lot more information about working for charities within their more general booklets for students. I find a lot of books actually encouraging graduates to work for such unethical businesses as Nestle and Shell, even though the university has a Nestle boycott.” Manchester student • “I find clients can be very frustrated by the lack of transparent schemes and entry points for graduates in comparison with the commercial world. They hold that against us in the careers centre, thinking we don't choose to promote the voluntary sector. We spend a lot of energy trying to redress that balance.” Response from HE advisers survey

6. Background - Why I was able to do it? • Flexibility possible as I work part time • Enthusiasm and commitment to the subject • A development opportunity for me! • Willingness to network to get participants/support • Great opportunity to find out more with credibility of doing a national research project

7. Background - rationale for scope of research • Focus on the careers in charities that are not associated with clear professional pathways where there is ample information available already • So … management, administration, fundraising, HR, marketing, PR, finance, IT, volunteer management, policy, research

8. Initial planned outcomes • A publication that offers labour market insights and information which will be of use to graduates seeking to go into the voluntary sector. • A minimum of 12 quality case studies which make comparisons between different types of charities and different types of role.

9. Initial planned outcomes • Recommendations to employers in the sector and the Voluntary sector workforce hub as to how best to access graduate recruits and the benefits to them as employers of doing so. • Findings disseminated via the NCVO and AGCAS primarily, and published on www.hecsu.ac.uk. This will most likely be in a pdf format. Disseminate findings at relevant events – e.g., AGCAS biennial and in relevant publications e.g., Phoenix.

10. Review of relevant literature • Voluntary sector almanac – 2006 (Figures for context) • Voluntary sector workforce hub has published numerous relevant reports www.voluntarysectorskills.org.uk • Third Sector: first choice – proposal of career entry scheme for graduates 2008 – unconfirmed • Pathways to employment in the Voluntary/community sector – Marion Lacey (2006) • Futureskills (2003) • Inside research 2006 – Voluntary sector salary survey

11. Review the DLHE context -unfavourable • What does DLHE tell us? Not a lot! • Very hard to use data to get a picture of those going into the sector. Voluntary sector peripheral. The nature of charity may put it into different industry categories – eg., heritage, conservation, education • From HESA 2004/5 - clearly defined VCS would probably fall under industry code 8530 Social work, community, counselling and charitable services - 3.6% of total cohort went into this field - • 37% of cohort going into voluntary work belonged to Industry code above (included fundraisers, environment conservation, social science researchers) • Relevant occupational codes within DLHE; 11143 senior officials of charities; 41141 charity officers; 35435 fundraising, campaigns and appeals organizers - are not all associated with the SIC code above – actually represent only 0.3% of total cohort

12. Review policy context - favourable • All sides of the political spectrum are saying they want to use voluntary sector more (eg.,Office for Third sector) • Delivery of public services? Some controversy about this – opportunity, compromise, risk? Partnership working • Challenges to legal framework – eg.,Charities Bill, Advisory group on campaigning and Voluntary sector • UK workforce hub – ChangeUp funding

13. Methodology • Already some changes to this (discussions with Voluntary sector workforce hub researcher) • Key features • HE consultants survey • Case studies/ interviews with recent graduates • Interviews with HR staff • Miscellaneous

14. HE advisers survey • Voluntary sector workforce hub keen on this • 69 responses from 55 Universities • Thank you if you replied!

21. HE advisers’ comments • “Students are often dissatisfied with the idea of gaining unpaid relevant work experience and with the increasing level of debt students have, it is becoming more difficult for them.” • “Wish that students are realistic (which many are) re the self development work/time necessary to enter, and continue/progress in this sector. Wish that students would use more imagination. The tenacity and determination of some students continues to encourage me. They need to believe in the power of networks and serendipity.”

22. Graduate case studies • Am I asking the right questions • What/where did you study at University and when did you finish? • Why did you choose to work in the voluntary/community sector? • What is your role? • What does your job/role involve? • What are the ups and downs of your job/role? • Did you have to complete any further education/training to get this job/role? • How did you get into your job/role? • What was your background prior to doing this work? • Did you have any experience of volunteering prior to getting into the sector? • Do you have any thoughts about your career progression in the sector? • How easy do you think it is to get a job in the sector? • What is your view of pay levels in the voluntary/community sector?

23. Case studies so far • 29 so far

25. Points of interest - volunteering • Didn’t have volunteering experience but had donated and supported charities. Very interested in cancer issue and academic studies gave clear connection to the charity. Only 2 out of 5 grad trainees had volunteering experience – so dangerous to generalise about volunteers. (Corporate services graduate trainee at CRUK) • I had bought into the myth that you have to volunteer for months or even years to get a good job in the sector - I'm sure that is the case for some of the high profile national organisations, but it's not the case everywhere. (GMCVO – Partnership project manager)

26. Points of interest - volunteering • I have volunteered on the Ffestiniog Railway in North Wales since I was 14. I have also always helped with Brownies and Guides. Whilst at university I was involved in a number of committees, most relevant being the charities committee, but I also helped organise the Summer Ball and organised Freshers Week for my college during my 3rd Year. All these experiences were so valuable and I'm sure it would have taken me much longer to get into this sector without them. (HSBP – community fundraiser)

27. Points of interest - volunteering • I did a lot of voluntary work for the students' union while at Edinburgh University, and I'd also done some volunteering with disabled people and at a primary school. My Fabian Society internship was also voluntary. (policy and information officer – Asthma UK) • The VSO YfD year in the Philippines was voluntary, although VSO paid for accommodation and gave a reasonable living allowance. I also volunteered on a summer building and teaching project in Kenya. (Livelihoods Research assistant intern –Oxfam)

28. Points of interest - Pay? • Everybody at x charity gets paid £2-3000 less than other charities would pay for the same job. Again, I believe that x charity loses a lot of good staff to other charities or to the public / private sectors for that reason. • I think the pay is pretty good, though there aren't a lot of people who choose to work in the voluntary sector for the money. I think my salary probably does compare quite well to similar jobs in the public sector.

29. Pay? Longer term volunteering – coping? • It's a challenge, but people have different strategies: some people work solidly for 6 months or so, earning money to pay for the internship; others (like me) work part time during their internship; others scrape by on expenses claims and savings. Oxford is expensive, but dozens of people cope on no or low wages. (Oxfam) • ATD provides accommodation for all its full-time volunteers, so this obviously helps a great deal. I didn’t receive any money for the first month but for the second and third months I have received £120. Although this is not a lot it has covered essentials. I had £500 saved when I began and have recently started a bar job so that I have a little extra. However, if I stay on as a full-time volunteer then I will receive roughly £400 a month, which is plenty to live on

30. HR staff interviews • 5 staff interviewed so far – the next stage

31. HR staff questions • Am I asking the right questions • Do you have a strategy re dealing with the recruitment of students and graduates? • Do you work with Universities in any way already, eg., through providing volunteering, placements etc. • What methods do you use to recruit/advertise for jobs generally? • How important is volunteering experience when applying for jobs? • Do you have any general advice for applicants about your approach to job applications and interviews? • What skills and qualities do you look for in candidates? • How competitive is it to get a job working for your charity? Are there any jobs that are hard to fill? • How common is it that people move from the public or private sector to the voluntary/community sector? • What is your view regarding the career progression opportunities available in the voluntary/community sector? • What professional development/training/qualifications can enhance a career in the voluntary/community sector?

32. Observations so far • Shift from quantitative to qualitative approach – more appropriate to sector • How to organise all the data I have? Should I include all case studies or not

33. Conclusion • Really appreciate any feedback on my approach so far • Recommendations of organisations/people to approach • What would you like the resource to look like?