The employment of a skilled graduate from Malaysia is helping a Moray business to flourish, as a result of a graduate placement programme. 

GO - Graduate Opportunities in Work is a graduate placement programme encouraging graduates and undergraduates from any area who are looking for a placement or a full-time job, an opportunity to show employers in the Highlands what they're capable of. 

Shu Chin Goh recently joined the team at Ichthus Architects in Burghead to help the company develop an interior design service and also to do some research into eco-friendly building techniques.  She has a Diploma in Interior Design from the Malaysian Institute of Art and a Degree in Architecture from the Scott Sutherland School at Aberdeen where she won 'Best Student' for her year.

As a small business, Ichthus Architects in Burghead, approached GO looking for support to employ a trainee architect to help them with the demands of the business.

The GO programme aims to help graduates kick start their career by giving them the experience of working with companies that are linked to their degree discipline while the companies also benefit from an injection of new knowledge in their field.  Graduates are given an invaluable opportunity to work in business using their skills and earning a salary while gaining vital experience.   

Shu Chin Goh said:  "I am very grateful that the programme has given me the opportunity to work at Ichthus Architects for 14 months.  Sharing concepts with colleagues is a fun aspect of working in the office which sometimes gives me inspiration for my ideas especially as we have different cultures."

Architect and principal Keith Remnant said:  "Chin has brought a fresh perspective to the projects we are working on and not being constrained by previous preconceptions.  It's interesting to share experiences and ideas with a graduate from a different cultural background - she suggests ideas that we would otherwise never have thought of.  We look forward to having her in the team for a further few months."

The programme is funded by HIE Inverness and East Highland and HIE Moray and is available to businesses in both areas.  The programme offers financial support of up to £5,000 each year and additional assistance is also available to businesses recruiting and training graduates. 

Gavin Mackay, development manager at HIE Moray said:  "The programme attracts graduates to the area where they can use their newly acquired skills and knowledge to the advantage of the community as a whole.  Graduates can spend up to a year with a host company, allowing them to develop personally and professionally while providing real benefits to the business."

Further information is available to those who are interested in benefiting form GO www.hie.co.uk/graduate-opportunities or phone 0800 0326240.