GRADUATE TALENT. SME GROWTH. NEW MARKETS.
We are currently speaking with SMEs and regional partners as we develop our first programmes.
We are currently speaking with SMEs, universities and regional partners as we develop the first Argonauts Fellowship. Registering does not commit you to taking part.
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THE OPPORTUNITY
International growth can be difficult for an SME. Researching an unfamiliar market, understanding customers and competitors, adapting products or communications, identifying potential partners and simply finding the time to explore an opportunity can all become barriers. At the same time, the UK has a large pool of internationally capable graduate talent with skills, experience and perspectives that businesses do not always know how to access. Argonauts is being built to connect that capability with SMEs that want to grow.
Argonauts is interested in graduates who can help businesses understand and operate across markets. That capability might come from language skills, international experience, market knowledge, cultural understanding, research capability, specialist expertise or simply the confidence to work across borders. Fellows may be UK graduates, international graduates or researchers. What matters is the capability they can bring to an SME.
HOW IT WORKS
01. IDENTIFY
Find businesses with genuine growth opportunities
We work with SMEs where additional capacity or expertise could help turn international-growth ambition into action.
02. PREPARE
Build commercially useful capability
Fellows complete structured preparation in market research, competitor analysis, business development, localisation and commercial awareness.
03. MATCH
Bring the right capability into the business
We match prepared graduates with SMEs where their skills can contribute to a clear growth-focused project.
04. SUPPORT
Give both sides more structure
A clearer framework helps employers and Fellows understand objectives, expectations and how the placement can create value.
FOR SMEs
You may already know there is an opportunity beyond your existing market. The harder question is often: who has the time to explore it? An Argonauts Fellow could provide capacity for market research, customer and competitor insight, partner identification, international business development, localisation and new-market options.
Graduate capability without building a graduate scheme.
Argonauts is designed to reduce the barriers smaller employers face: finding the right people, preparing them properly, reducing management burden and creating useful capacity around defined business challenges.
Register SME interest
WORKING TOGETHER
Argonauts is being developed as a model that can bring together employers, universities, local authorities and organisations interested in graduate employment and SME growth.
SMEs
Provide genuine business challenges and opportunities where Fellows can contribute.
Universities
Help talented graduates move from academic capability into commercial experience.
Regional partners
Support SME productivity, graduate retention and stronger regional economies.
Graduates
Bring skills, knowledge, energy and international capability into ambitious businesses.
ABOUT US
Argonauts grew from an observation about how international experience can become a commercial asset. While living and working in Shanghai, founder Dr James Beardsmore saw graduates use language skills, cultural knowledge, international networks and familiarity with the UK to create connections between businesses and markets. Argonauts is the result: a practical ambition to help smaller businesses make better use of internationally capable graduate talent.
Dr James Beardsmore
James founded Argonauts after more than a decade working, teaching and managing in higher education, bringing together interests in the global economy, graduate development and the transition between education and professional practice.
CONTACT
If you would like to discuss an SME opportunity, potential partnership or the development of Argonauts, we would be pleased to hear from you.
ARGONAUTS
TURNING GRADUATE TALENT INTO GROWTH
Argonauts is currently developing its first regional Fellowship programmes in partnership with employers and other organisations.