Last updated 16:22, Friday, 25 July 2008

GRADUATE retention – that’s a term which is often used when it comes to highlighting West Cumbria as a centre of excellence for skills and development.

Graduate Hannah Johnson: “Business and enterprise and education and skills is where I want to focus my attention.”

To minimise the ‘Brain Drain’ on the area and prevent our young professionals leaving, a number of graduate retainment projects and initiatives have been established.

But for graduate Hannah Johnson, Cumbria was the one place she wanted to be a budding professional.

Hannah, 28, has just completed a degree in business and management at the University of Cumbria after transferring from the University of South East London.

“I moved away from the hustle and bustle of the city because the lifestyle was much better for my daughter up here in Cumbria,” she said.

“There are some exciting things going on in Cumbria at the minute and I wanted to be a part of it; I realised there would be plenty of opportunities for me as a graduate back here.

“I originally began my degree studying business and management and educational social studies but when I transfered I dropped the social studies and took ICT instead.

“We had been given economic modules previously but they were globally based, so when the time came for me to undertake my dissertation I decided to consider economic issues on a local level.

“Initially I looked at the redevelopments taking place in Carlisle with the airport plans and all the work which had been undertaken by Carlisle Renaissance.

“But I soon realised there was much more happening county-wide.

“Within the University is Cred, the Centre for Regional Economic Development, and the research director there, Frank Peck, gave me research documents to help me.

“I went to a lot of Cred seminars to focus on what was going on in the county and the wider effect it would have.”

Hannah, originally from Silloth, received a first class grade for her dissertation. But whilst she was gathering information for her dissertation, she further developed an interest in the regeneration sector and saw the opportunities it possessed.

She contacted Cumbria Vision and Cumbria County Council and explained her interest in regeneration – and her eagerness to get involved.

“Cumbria Vision got back to me the following week and the council replied the very same day,” Hannah explained.

“Allan Haile, head of economic development at the county council, was keen to get me involved so I set about gaining work experience.

“My first placement was with Cumbria Vision, where I spent three weeks shadowing the strategy director and other members of the strategy team. I really enjoyed my time there and I was invited to meetings and had one-to-ones with the staff to get a better understanding of what their work involves.

“I went with them to the Invest in Cumbria headquarters for the day to see exactly what their role in regeneration involves.

“With my time spent with the Cumbria Vision team I got the chance to spend the odd day at most of the regeneration bodies and authorities in the county such as the Regeneration Support Team, Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency, Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, Business Link, North West Development Agency, Cumbria Community Foundation, Cumbria Economic Development Group and West Lakes Renaissance.”

Hannah, who is currently living in Carlisle, is nearing the end of her placement at the Cumbria County Council. Here she has had the opportunity to speak to the policy and project team and been involved in meetings and initiatives such as the Return to Work scheme and Reduction of Worklessness.

This is where Hannah sees herself specialising – education and skills.

“I live near pockets of deprivation in Carlisle so I know what needs to be done and the social effects of regenerating areas,” she explained.

“My role as a magistrate has meant I have seen the people who need help getting back into work and I think that fuelled my interest in education and skills. I would love to be involved in developing facilities and initiatives to help people out of worklessness. So business and enterprise and education and skills is where I want to focus my attention.

“Coming back to Cumbria has been a good move for me as, being a recent graduate and wanting to work in that specific area, Cumbria is the place to be when it comes to regeneration, skills and education.

“The area does really well to offer business incentives to boost economic regeneration so the last thing I would want to do is leave the area.

“Wanting to be involved in all of that means I will hopefully get to play a part in shaping the future for the younger generation of Cumbria.”