A scheme that allows universities to employ students as temps has expanded to include three more institutions, increasing the number of on-campus branches to eight locations in the UK.

City University London, University of Roehampton and Staffordshire University have all signed up to launch new franchises next month of the online recruitment agency Unitemps.

The Unitemps service was created by the University of Warwick in 1997 and developed a franchise model for other HE institutions in 2010. The model is already being successfully operated at the University of Nottingham and the University of Surrey.

The agency uses students, recent graduates and experienced candidates from the local community to provide temporary staff across all campus functions and to commercial businesses.

Director at Unitemps Paul Brewster said he was delighted to see three more universities taking up the Unitemps model.

He said: “We are expecting these three new franchises to open in May. Unitemps is different to other recruitment agencies. Our staff do not work on commission and they are driven by helping students and providing excellent customer service. All profits are retained by the University and reinvested in developing student employability and campus facilities.

“It is fantastic news that City University London, University of Roehampton and Staffordshire University have taken on the Unitemps franchise model. It is a very unique model, tailored specifically for Higher Education institutions. Here at the University of Warwick we will be doing all we can to help our partners make the new franchises successful.”

Gary Argent, Director of Careers at City University, London, said: “A highly visible, centralised team located in the Careers Service will help students to meet their need for part-time work, creating clear links between the experience they gain while temping and the development of employability skills to support their graduate job search.”

University of Roehampton’s Director of Student Affairs, Ian Pickup, said: “We are delighted to be opening a Unitemps franchise. The opportunity to support our students in this way whilst developing strong links with local business, compliments our employability strategy perfectly.”

Staffordshire University’s Head of Careers Centre, Dr Mark Kent, said “We are very excited to be opening a Unitemps franchise, and to integrate this service into and strengthen our existing offer to employers. The expansion of opportunities for students to work is a vital strand of the University’s strategy, and will help them to support themselves and to develop their employability skills.”

Notes to editors

For more information, please contact Kelly Parkes-Harrison, Press and Communications Manager, University of Warwick, 02476 150868, 07824 540863, k.e.parkes@warwick.ac.uk