Summary
Manchester Digital, the trade association for Greater Manchester's digital and tech sector, convened employers to discuss graduate engagement and retention. Participating organisations ranged from those launching first graduate programmes to experienced employers, sharing practical approaches including buddy schemes, mentoring and layered support models.
Key themes included helping graduates feel part of something beyond their immediate role through peer networks, developing soft skills alongside technical capability, and providing transparent career pathways and progression milestones. Members emphasised the importance of explicit workplace transition support covering communication, professional relationships and time management.
The discussion underscored the region's talent pipeline challenges. Manchester Digital's Grad Recharge programme supports final-year students and recent graduates facing employment barriers through workplace visits, mentoring and employer-led masterclasses. The association is seeking members to offer internships, placements and mentoring to strengthen graduate pathways into the local tech sector.
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Common questions
- What is this article about?
- Manchester Digital held a Member Knowledge Exchange where employers including ICO, HPE, AXA, Autotrader and Bet365 shared approaches to retaining and developing graduate talent. The session highlighted the value of cohort-based programmes, mentoring, clear career pathways and support as graduates transition from education to the workplace.
- When was this published?
- This article was published on 9 July 2026.
- Who published this article?
- This article was published by Manchester Digital.