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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Graduate scheme cancelled and job withdrawn a month before start date

58 replies

Strumpetpumpet · 07/08/2025 07:27

Morning everyone

DS has just graduated and was offered a job back in March, was really looking forward to starting next month and they’ve phoned him this week and said they’re cancelling the graduate scheme for this year. Just wondering if anyone else has had this happen too as I haven’t come across it before? Maybe a sign of the times.

Obviously they will have had good reason (presumably financial - in which case I’ve told him there’ll be staff in worse positions than him) but I feel so sorry for him. He was really looking forward to starting and was genuinely excited about the role. The short notice means he’s also missed out on the opportunity to apply for any other graduate roles in the same area as they’ll have been filled now. Instead he’s stuck at home with us while his friends all go off to start their new adventures 😢 and having to start again.

i just wondered if anyone else has had this happen too - I hope not but would be good to get some feedback/advice etc. obviously he’s been in touch with his uni tutor but I guess I’m hoping someone will tell me this happened to their son/daughter and it all worked out for the best 🤞

OP posts:
Original poster
Strumpetpumpet · 10/08/2025 19:45

EwwSprouts · 10/08/2025 17:12

I am so sorry for him. I feel it is a sign of the times. Even though they knew for a while the NI increase has been hard for companies along with the US tariffs. Agree with PPs get him to apply for anything or plan travel as it looks better on the CV that he has done something constructive with his time. Friend's DD, who has a masters with distinction, took a job in a supermarket and 3 months later secured a graduate level job in her chosen field. There is hope!

Thank you - we’re trying to be positive x

OP posts:
Original poster
Strumpetpumpet · 10/08/2025 19:48

MaturingCheeseball · 10/08/2025 17:18

The same happened to dd: “Very sorry, decided to suspend the graduate training scheme.” It does seem unfair to time it like this since, as OP says, there’s no opportunity to apply for anything else this cycle.

It does seem like the end of the world when everyone else is moving on, getting flatmates etc. Dd says it’s the first September ever when she hasn’t known what she’s doing - the “new pencil case” feeling.

Dd has got a temp office job as it’s no use having a gap yah when you’ve got to be on the spot to apply during the next cycle.

Mind you, I wish I hadn’t stressed about jobs when I was her age. It soon dawns on you that working life is much overrated!

I’m so sorry your dd is in the same boat. I hope she finds something soon x

OP posts:
FakeMews · 10/08/2025 19:58

DS2 graduated in 2019. He planned to work for 6 months then travel for 6 months and start a grad scheme in 2020.
Unfortunately covid led to the majority of firms stopping all grad schemes.
There are a few that are launched all year round, not just September and he was lucky enough to get one. It wasn't what he planned for, the travel never happened but he did well and is still with the organisation.

TizerorFizz · 10/08/2025 23:20

@WanderingWisteria A job offer and the DS acceptance has formed a contract but the employer is allowed to break the contract as the DS would have done had he been offered double the money elsewhere. You would not expect the person not starting the job to pay compensation but everyone thinks the employer should pay up. They can get away with paying nothing but should have offered something for PR reasons. Info about any future positions for a start.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 10/08/2025 23:24

MerlinsBeard87 · 07/08/2025 07:38

My DH is in a similar position with an apprenticeship he was offered in March. He’s just finished his job in a school ready to start the apprenticeship in September and they’ve just withdrawn it. So now unemployed leaving us panicking about paying the mortgage with 3 children 😠
Im so fuming with the timing but believe there’s nothing to do other than intensive job search!

I think he should do agency/ supply work in schools

Ops ds may also want to apply to be an agency teaching assistant or cover supervisor in a school or a nursery, it's a great job to have while applying for others.
Also he might want to do a four week celta course and then go and teach English in Vietnam for a year.

These would be great gap year jobs before reapplying next year!

Original poster
Strumpetpumpet · 11/08/2025 07:21

WanderingWisteria · 10/08/2025 18:26

How horrible.
What does his contract say about notice? Are they trying to argue that they are giving him notice before his start date and that counts? I think you need to post in Legal or speak to ACAS as I’m not sure if they can do that - and, even if they can, they are shooting them selves in the foot as I would expect them to give the usual notice period as a goodwill gesture. I would also expect them to be bending over backwards to find alternative opportunities for their grads.
Is he already in contact with some of those who were due to start with him? Reaching out to them might help him.

He checked his contract last night, and his notice period for the first week of employment is one day ! - so the employer is paying in line with the notice period 😱

OP posts:
poetryandwine · 11/08/2025 10:24

I too am so sorry this happened, OP. You have good suggestions above.

At many universities DS will still have full access to the Careers Service. I would take full advantage of that. I also think they would be interested in the identity of a firm that is reneging on job offers to their graduates.

Best wishes to DS.

Original poster
Strumpetpumpet · 11/08/2025 13:29

poetryandwine · 11/08/2025 10:24

I too am so sorry this happened, OP. You have good suggestions above.

At many universities DS will still have full access to the Careers Service. I would take full advantage of that. I also think they would be interested in the identity of a firm that is reneging on job offers to their graduates.

Best wishes to DS.

Thank you I will get him to contact the careers service. He’s already contacted the head of his course, as the company he was due to work for had been invited to give a guest lecture at the university in order to recruit 😬 so they definitely need to be aware x

OP posts:
Ozgirl76 · 12/08/2025 08:52

I graduated back in 2000 and this happened to loads of people I was friends with who were about to start in the City. The dot com bubble burst and heaps of grad schemes were cancelled.
Most of my friends applied for the following year and then spent the year travelling, working, making their CV look good. Some did extra study.

TizerorFizz · 12/08/2025 09:18

@Strumpetpumpet It was common after the 08/09 crash. Also in Covid year. It’s not unusual and many firms are struggling right now with tax hikes like the NI one taxing the firm based on employees. Many are having to rein back on employee costs and this does make it difficult for grads. Blame Rachel and anti business and growth policies.

It would depend what the recruitment talk was about. Getting students to apply or how to make a good solicitation and cv enhancement ideas? They are not the sane.

Original poster
Strumpetpumpet · 12/08/2025 21:25

Ozgirl76 · 12/08/2025 08:52

I graduated back in 2000 and this happened to loads of people I was friends with who were about to start in the City. The dot com bubble burst and heaps of grad schemes were cancelled.
Most of my friends applied for the following year and then spent the year travelling, working, making their CV look good. Some did extra study.

Thanks for your message, I hope everything worked out well for you and your friends x

OP posts:
Original poster
Strumpetpumpet · 12/08/2025 21:26

TizerorFizz · 12/08/2025 09:18

@Strumpetpumpet It was common after the 08/09 crash. Also in Covid year. It’s not unusual and many firms are struggling right now with tax hikes like the NI one taxing the firm based on employees. Many are having to rein back on employee costs and this does make it difficult for grads. Blame Rachel and anti business and growth policies.

It would depend what the recruitment talk was about. Getting students to apply or how to make a good solicitation and cv enhancement ideas? They are not the sane.

I’m not blaming anyone I posted to ask for advice and a bit of reassurance and have had some great advice on here. The guest lecture was a recruiting tool - about the company and what they do, and what roles they had available

OP posts:
Justtryingthis · 12/08/2025 21:40

Similar thing happened to me in 1991, but it was an A level entry job. It changed the course of my life as I worked for a year in that industry, and applied to go to Uni which had never been on the cards before.
I know it’s a horrible shock. He needs time to wallow and then a plan. It will all come good though.

TizerorFizz · 12/08/2025 22:58

@Strumpetpumpet Well as I said earlier, it might be a pause and they might reinstate grad recruitment next year. Do you run a business?

toogudd · 13/08/2025 07:41

@Strumpetpumpet I graduated during the early eighties recession, when there were multiple news headlines about graduate schemes being cancelled and a downturn in graduate jobs generally. I buried myself in a PhD and jumped into the job market a few years later on the back of the tech boom. However, it has made me nervous for my DC who has a grad job lined up starting in September. When I saw your thread it made me feel slightly sick. I feel for your son and wish him well. Perhaps he should contact the BBC and capitalise on some publicity ... similar the the LinkedIn idea up-thread, it could lead to some offers.

TizerorFizz · 13/08/2025 09:58

@toogudd This won’t be an isolated case. Companies don’t like doing this but it’s almost certainly finance driven. The government taxes employment. All the stats are saying there’s less employment. I strongly suggest you contact your Labour mp. The government doesn’t understand how business needs to operate and thinks it’s a cash cow. There are too many restraints on business recruitment and I’ve no doubt loads are pausing employment opportunities. It’s tough for so many. That doesn’t mean they won’t need recruits in the future. We’ve had boom and bust so many times you would think governments would learn!

Original poster
Strumpetpumpet · 13/08/2025 19:16

toogudd · 13/08/2025 07:41

@Strumpetpumpet I graduated during the early eighties recession, when there were multiple news headlines about graduate schemes being cancelled and a downturn in graduate jobs generally. I buried myself in a PhD and jumped into the job market a few years later on the back of the tech boom. However, it has made me nervous for my DC who has a grad job lined up starting in September. When I saw your thread it made me feel slightly sick. I feel for your son and wish him well. Perhaps he should contact the BBC and capitalise on some publicity ... similar the the LinkedIn idea up-thread, it could lead to some offers.

I hope your DC’s job goes well - none of DS’s friends or course mates have had this happen so it sounds as if it’s pretty rare 🤞

OP posts:
Original poster
Strumpetpumpet · 13/08/2025 19:18

TizerorFizz · 12/08/2025 22:58

@Strumpetpumpet Well as I said earlier, it might be a pause and they might reinstate grad recruitment next year. Do you run a business?

I don’t but I’m an accountant with an economics degree so do have an inkling of the challenges…

OP posts:
Original poster
Strumpetpumpet · 19/09/2025 06:07

Morning all, I just wanted to update this thread as I’m delighted to say DS has been offered a graduate role to start next month! It was a post on LinkedIn shared by one of his uni lecturers that started the ball rolling. Thank you so much to all of you who suggested LinkedIn and all your other helpful ideas and words of support, we are over the moon for him (and very relieved!)

@MerlinsBeard87 I hope your DP is now sorted x
@ArtTheClownIsNotAMime thank you so much for suggesting LinkedIn!

OP posts:
Original poster
Strumpetpumpet · 19/09/2025 06:09

@MaturingCheeseball hope your DD is doing ok too x

OP posts:
Motnight · 19/09/2025 06:49

Brilliant news @Strumpetpumpet!

MaturingCheeseball · 19/09/2025 08:21

Well done ds of @Strumpetpumpet !! He must be so excited.

dd is plodding along in temp job but has an “interview for an interview” (!!!!) in a week’s time.

EwwSprouts · 19/09/2025 08:28

@Strumpetpumpet Fantastic news! Thanks for coming back with the update.

SquigglePigs · 19/09/2025 08:46

That's great news. Congratulations to your DS. Hope he really enjoys it.

TizerorFizz · 19/09/2025 09:44

@Strumpetpumpet Hope he enjoys his job. Good to know some firms are recruiting!

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