Graduate careers in Newcastle
The size of the city of Newcastle is one of its main advantages. It's big enough to include everything you could expect in a big city but also not so dauntingly large as to dwarf the arriving graduate. 60 per cent of its buildings are listed, which contrasts with the growing number of modern 21st century landmarks, making Newcastle the perfect blend of old and new.
Major regeneration has occurred throughout Newcastle but in particular down by the Quayside area. Here it shares six bridges over the River Tyne with Gateshead, the newest of which is the Millennium Bridge with its inventive blinking eye shape rivalling the famous green Tyne Bridge for the quayside's attention.
With culture high on the agenda in Newcastle, there are plenty of art galleries and museums, along with mainstream, as well as art-house cinemas. However, the dominant culture here is undoubtedly football, which plays a significant role in life in Newcastle and in the north east as a whole. Newcastle United and their neighbours, Sunderland, have one of the fiercest rivalries in the country and both clubs will be playing together in the Premiership next season - so with the North East's footballing fervour as strong as ever, the rivalry will be difficult to ignore. However, the sea and the beach are never too far away should you wish for more tranquil surroundings. A quick ride on the metro will take you to the beaches in Sunderland, South Shields or Whitley Bay in under 20 minutes and all for the price of a pint.
Central Station has trains running all over the country, while the airport is only ten minutes away from the city centre. It offers many long and short-haul flights with airlines including Easyjet and Ryanair offering cheap flights to many destinations. The easy access to and from Newcastle has resulted in people coming to work in the city from all over the world, which in turn has transformed Newcastle into a place full of varied working opportunities for graduates looking for their first job.
Further information
The NewcastleGateshead Initiative is a portal launched by Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council to encourage and inform those who want to live, learn, work and visit Tyneside. Their website features in-depth guides to the Tyneside area as well as events and entertainment listings.
In and around Newcastle | Drink at... | Dance at... | Eat at... | Shop at... | The cost of living in Newcastle | Getting work in the Newcastle area
In and around Newcastle
There is a wealth of places to go in-and-around the centre of Newcastle. Regional stereotyping doesn't always give a fair reflection of a city but Geordies will find it hard to argue with their reputation. Every weekend you will undoubtedly find 'the toon' buzzing with amiable groups of all ages, exchanging light hearted banter, happy to spend all their hard-earned money on copious amounts of alcohol - and yes, the women wear very little even in the midst of even the coldest winters.
The student populated Jesmond (a couple of metro stops from the city centre) has plenty of bars to spend the evening in. Osbourne Road is renowned amongst students for its uber-trendiness and student friendly prices, so if you're feeling like a Hollywood A-lister but don't have the bulging wallet to back it up, Osbournes and Bar Belise are the places to be. However, if you've just received your first wage and want to bump into footballers and rockstars, head over to the Quayside where classy bars such as the Pitcher and Piano allow you to mingle with the showy clientele while overlooking the sparkling river. Otherwise visit the Gate for Players Bar, Mood, and Tiger Tiger, or hit the Carling Academy for some indie-pop and rock. If the chav scene is your thing, the 'world renowned' Bigg Market should be right up your street.
Drink at...
- Bar 42: Obscenely cheap trebles bar (£1.50 happy hour) hidden down Hood Street opposite the old Odeon.
- The Union Rooms: No music but as it seems to be everyone's starting point there's always a cracking atmosphere and as it's a JD Wetherspoons, it's also cheap!
- Osbournes: The most popular bar in the student-friendly Jesmond area with a happy hour button giving you the chance to get a half price round in.
Dance at...
- Carling Academy: Club night Bulletproof follows gigs on Saturdays with cheap drink, good music and a few Pete Docherty wannabes all on offer.
- Blu Bambu: If you like your cheese and pop this is the most popular club in town.
- Mr Lynch's: Live music, live DJ's and a lively crowd, this Jesmond 'late bar' is open until 2.00 am.
Eat at...
- La Tasca: Spanish tapas bar on the quayside. It's not cheap but it's always busy and serves great food along with a nice pint of San Miguel.
- Stowel Street: Newcastle's very own mini-Beijing, Chinatown is based near St James Park stadium with prices ranging from the very affordable to the very expensive - not forgetting the ever-popular 'all you can eat' buffets.
- Magic Flame: Everyone needs a good takeaway to head to after a night out and they don't get much better than this. Directly opposite the Centre for Life means this place is always full of fellow drunken clubbers waiting for their kebabs.
Shop at...
- The Metrocentre: Take the metro to Gateshead then it's just a quick bus ride to one of Europe's largest shopping malls ready and willing to swallow your cash.
- Eldon Square: Newcastle's main shopping centre, including all the major shopping chains you would expect to find in a big city.
- Northumberland Street: Anything you can't find in Eldon Square will be out here in the bustling high street.
The cost of living in Newcastle
In common with the rest of the country over the past ten years, house prices in Newcastle have continued to rise at an alarming rate with the average house valued at £162,502 and an average rent at £56 per week. However, when compared to the vastly inflated value of property in the south, prices in Newcastle should not pose as much of a burden on graduates. Availability, on the other hand, might be a bit of a problem.
Due to its ever-increasing popularity, the number of students coming to Newcastle has been on the rise over the past few years. However the amount of purpose-built student accommodation in the city has not kept pace with this growth, which has led to many students being forced to live in residential communities, mostly in the trendy suburb of Jesmond. While the council are set to build accommodation for an extra 6,000 students, in the meantime prospective graduates will face competition from existing students for houses at the cheaper end of the scale. On the upside, the cost of living in Newcastle is much cheaper than most places in the country, so if you are moving here from London it will still take you several weeks to erase the smile off your face when you first realise the average price of a pint.
Here are a few pointers to help you in your property search:
- www.accommodationforstudents.com/Newcastle.asp offers up to date information on the student/graduate housing you will be looking for.
- The Journal lists available property in the area every Saturday in its 'Homemaker' section.
- Stud-lets are specialists in student letting and property management in the north east. In particular they offer a young professionals service that gives you the chance to find graduates in a similar position.
Getting work in Newcastle
Like the rest of the north east, Newcastle was formerly renowned for its manual work and in particular the ship building industry. But with the Baltic Flour Mill now an art gallery and the only ship on the Tyne being a nightclub, it's clear that things have moved on in the city. 21st century Newcastle boasts an abundance of potential recruiters from the banking, IT, accounting, law, management and teaching sectors, and all are ready to employ the best graduate talent.
Here is a list of some of the best graduate recruiters in and around Newcastle. (Note: these companies may not be currently recruiting. Their names have been provided as a guideline to the type of work available and areas to look in.)
- Benchmark Communications Ltd: (conference, event management, Newcastle)
One of the fastest growing conference and event management companies in the UK, organising and marketing conferences and events in the scientific, IT, cultural, health and sport industries. Tel: 0191-241 4523. Benchmark Communications Ltd, 14 Blandford Square, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 4HZ
- Deloitte: (accounting, Newcastle)
Ranked second in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers 2006, they devote a great amount of resources to finding graduate talent. Core service lines include audit, tax, consulting and corporate finance. Tel: +44 (0)191 2614111. Deloitte, Gainsborough House, 34-40 Grey Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 6AE
- Ernst & Young: (accounting, Newcastle)
Vacancies are available all year round with promise of fast-track development for graduates. The accelerated leadership programme is designed to help those with the right combination of talent and drive to progress up the career ladder faster. Tel: +44 (0)191 2472500. Ernst & Young, Citygate, St James' Boulevard, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 4JD
- Green Media: (online services, Newcastle)
A digital agency specialising in online services for businesses that welcome speculative applications. Tel +44 (0)191 275 9777. Green Media, Maling Studios, Hoults Estate, Walker Road, Quayside, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE6 2HL
- HSBC: (banking, Newcastle)
HSBC have a wide range of graduate programmes on offer, from retail management to insurance broking, all promising you early responsibility, recognition for achievement and competitive rewards.
- Newcastle Building Society: (banking, Newcastle)
One of the strongest mutual building societies in the UK and the largest to be based in the northeast of England. With more than 1,000 staff, it offers comprehensive training and benefits packages. Tel: +44 (0)845 606 4488. Newcastle Building Society, 9 New Bridge Street West, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8AQ
- Nissan: (manufacturing, Sunderland)
Their graduate training scheme includes a comprehensive training programme together with other benefits and an annual salary starting of £22,572, rising to £32,340 within 30 months subject to performance. Tel: +44 (0)191 5489888. Nissan Trading Europe Limited Head Office, Unit 3E, Hylton Park, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear SR5 3HD
- Northumbria Police: (law, Ponteland)
Recruiting at certain periods throughout the year, the police hire an unlimited number of graduates every year and provide exceptional training opportunities. The police High Potential Development scheme offers a structured framework that can lead to the more senior positions in the service. Tel: +44 (0)166 186 8446. Northumbria Police HQ, Ponteland, Newcastle upon Tyne NE20 0BL.
- Procter and Gamble: (consumer, Newcastle)
One of the largest and strongest portfolios of quality brands, including Ariel, Braun, Crest, Duracell, Gillette, Head & Shoulders and Pringles. They offer a range of management roles and internships for graduates. Internships generally last 10 to 12 weeks and offer a monthly salary of £1,650. Tel: +44 (0)191 2281000. Procter and Gamble Technical Centre, Whitley Rd, Longbenton, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE12 9SR
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