Skip to content Skip to navigation
University of Warwick
  • Study
  • |
  • Research
  • |
  • Business
  • |
  • Alumni
  • |
  • News
  • |
  • About

University of Warwick
Publications service & WRAP

Highlight your research

  • WRAP
    • Home
    • Search WRAP
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse WRAP by Year
    • Browse WRAP by Subject
    • Browse WRAP by Department
    • Browse WRAP by Funder
    • Browse Theses by Department
  • Publications Service
    • Home
    • Search Publications Service
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse Publications service by Year
    • Browse Publications service by Subject
    • Browse Publications service by Department
    • Browse Publications service by Funder
  • Help & Advice
University of Warwick

The Library

  • Login
  • Admin

"It's not already laid out for you in a small company" : UK graduates' knowledge and skills utilisation in small and large businesses

Tools
- Tools
+ Tools

Luchinskaya, Daria (2016) "It's not already laid out for you in a small company" : UK graduates' knowledge and skills utilisation in small and large businesses. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

[img]
Preview
PDF
WRAP_THESIS_Luchinskaya_2016.pdf - Submitted Version - Requires a PDF viewer.

Download (9Mb) | Preview
Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b2872057~S1

Request Changes to record.

Abstract

Small firms have been highlighted by the UK government as potential graduate employers, in the context of an expanding higher education system and slow growth in 'traditional' graduate jobs. But it is unclear whether graduates working in small firms would have similar opportunities to use their knowledge and skills and develop their careers as would graduates working in large companies. This thesis investigated this issue using a mixed-methods approach informed by small business and career theories. A targeted statistical analysis of a national longitudinal dataset of UK graduates currently in their early careers (Futuretrack) was followed up with interviews with a strategically selected sub-sample of 20 graduates employed in business and public service associate professional occupations.

Little association was found between employer size and graduates' use of the knowledge and skills developed during their university degrees. However, some evidence suggested that the ways in which graduates were taking on additional responsibilities differed by employer size: larger companies were more likely to have formal career development programs in place and graduates were able to take opportunities, while small companies tended to have less formal arrangements, so that graduates had to be more self-reliant and make opportunities to develop their jobs. However, graduates in small businesses tended to reach a career plateau relatively quickly, which compelled them to change employers. Most of these graduates, however, thought that their experience in small businesses had helped them go on to get better jobs.

The main contribution of this thesis is the finding that, even in a narrowly defined occupation and industry group, business size has a partial and qualified effect on graduates' experience of work and career development. The findings also have significant implications for policy, recommending that graduates' career development opportunities be taken into account when encouraging graduates to work in small firms.

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HF Commerce
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Small business, College graduates -- Employment, Career development
Official Date: May 2016
Dates:
DateEvent
May 2016Submitted
Institution: University of Warwick
Theses Department: Institute for Employment Research
Thesis Type: PhD
Publication Status: Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: Purcell, Kate ; Mole, Kevin
Sponsors: Economic and Social Research Council (Great Britain) [ES/1036907/1]
Extent: xv, 338 leaves : charts
Language: eng

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics

twitter

Email us: wrap@warwick.ac.uk
Contact Details
About Us