4 Stages of Committee Capability Bright Futures Events The Board of Presidents 2013
STEM - UK Student Challenge | Blog about Blogging | Phoebe’s pantry | The Review Room | Company Profiles
contents Editor’s letter Resilience by Liggy Webb 4 Stages of Committee Capability STEM - UK Student Challenge Bright Futures Events The Board of Presidents 2013 Blog about Blogging Phoebe's Pantry The Review Room
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Company profiles
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Aspen
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dunnhumby
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PwC
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Centrica
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TeachFirst
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Santander
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Thales
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RPC
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Wragge & Co
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GE Aviation
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Bechtel
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Domestic & General
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The Bank of England
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KPMG
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Hiscox
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Tesco
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National award SPONSORS IBM Society of the Year [University of Manchester] www.ibm.com/jobs/uk/graduate
RPC Event of the Year [Time with Industry - Staffordshire University] www.rpc.co.uk/manifesto
Siemens Collaboration Award [Staffordshire University] www.siemens.co.uk/careers
Advorto Fastest Growing Society [King’s College, London] www.advorto.com
Rolls-Royce President of the Year [Chris Milborrow - University of Strathclyde] www.rolls-royce.com/careers
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editors letter Hi Everyone, I really hope you have all settled in well to your studies and of course your Societies. Event planning and running is in full swing for most of us and from what I have heard a lot of you have had very successful Octobers. It is really important that you let us know about your triumphs so we can shout about them through all of our media channels. The world should know all the good work our Societies are doing!
I have already witnessed some incredible work from Societies all over the country and from very different stages in their development and capability.
In the same way if there have been any disappointments, worries or questions then please get in touch and we can support you through anything that is going on.
I imagine this month will again be a busy one, balancing events with everything else so good luck and keep us up to date with all your experiences. All the best,
This month we are hosting our Presidents Conference at PwC’s offices in Birmingham. This is an extremely exciting opportunity for Presidents to learn about leadership, running their Society and have the ability to have their say on the National direction of Bright Futures.
All the best, Silas
As I tell a lot of Societies, coming into this job from a different environment and seeing the sheer grit and determination of our committee members impresses me beyond belief and really strengthens the pride I have in all of them.
HirEd Editor
www.brightfutures.co.uk
As well as a spotlight on that, this issue contains some highlight events from Lancaster and Strathclyde, a blog about..blogging and information about the Capability of our Committees. As well as all of this we have our usual mix of Reviews and Recipes.
*If you don’t have a Society at your university then set up your own! Contact us at society@brightfutures.co.uk and we can get you started right away!
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How to be
res ilienT By Liggy Webb
Life can be very challenging and at some point, everyone will experience varying degrees of setbacks. Resilient people are able to utilise their skills and strengths to cope and recover from the knockbacks and challenges. If you lack resilience you may become overwhelmed by these experiences and simply fall apart. It is really important, therefore, to develop some coping mechanisms and here are a few tips
Liggy Webb Profile
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Liggy Webb is a best selling author and international con United Nations and travels to various worldwide location founding director of The Learning Architect, an internatio as a thought leader on modern life skills and is regularly public sector. Liggy’s latest book Resilience is a practica on how to cultivate the right attitude and inner strength. approaches straightforward and simple.
Know yourself Self awareness and self confidence play an essential role in helping you to cope with stress and recover from difficult events. Understanding yourself is the first port of call and then reminding yourself of your strengths and accomplishments is key. Be optimistic Staying positive during dark periods can be difficult and it is important to maintain a hopeful outlook. Being an optimist does not mean being naive and ignoring the problem. It means understanding that setbacks are transient and that you will recover. Embrace Change Being positive about change is a really good approach. You may not be able to control or change circumstances; however, you can absolutely change your attitude towards them so you are far more in control than you think. Look after yourself When you are feeling traumatised, stressed and upset, it can be all too easy to neglect your own wellbeing. Losing your appetite, overeating, not exercising, not getting enough sleep, drinking too much alcohol, not drinking enough water, driving yourself too hard, are all common reactions to a crisis situation. Make positive connections Building and sustaining a strong network of supportive friends, family and work colleagues will act as a protective factor during times of crisis. It is important to have people you trust and can confide in. Keep going Winston Churchill summed this up perfectly. “If you are going through hell, keep going.� There is a lot be said for picking yourself up, dusting yourself off and carrying on. Being resilient is about the ability to bounce back and get on with life. Create a personal vision In times of crisis or when you are feeling low it is good to hold on to your dream and not lose sight of the fact that you can always have something to look forward to. There are lots of benefits to creating a vision and setting goals.
nsultant specialising in behavioural skills. She works with the ns including war zones and peace missions. Liggy is also the onal consortium of behavioural skills specialists. She is recognised asked to be an inspirational keynote speaker across private and al and accessible guide for coping with change and offers advice She is noted for her ability to distill complexity and keep 5
The 4 Stages of ‘Committee Capability’
We at the Bright Futures National Team have designed a new and innovative way for you as Society members or Employers to quickly find out key information about each Universities Society; be that membership & committee size as well as their capability. It provides a set of goals for our committees to strive towards which will help them become even more employable as well as recognition at our National Awards Ceremony in 2014. The system is called “The 4 Stages of Committee Capability” and the 4 Stages are ‘Learning’, ‘Established’, ‘Experienced’ and ‘Champion’, with each having very specific criteria associated with them. This system was created by drawing on best practice as to what our high performing Societies do and how they go about achieving the success they have. It gives the Society direction & structure and means each Committee can quickly recognise where they are currently with their capability and then create a plan (set of goals) to increase their capability and advance up another Stage. On our website (www.brightfutures.co.uk) we have created ‘The Who’s Who of Societies’ - CLICK HERE. This is a new feature that actively shows what Stage all of our Societies are at and the amount of Committee members and Society members they have. The idea behind this is to make all of our Societies as transparent as possible so rather than us telling you all how well they are doing, you can see it for yourself. Also it provides our Societies with the structured means to manage their own capability and development, at a pace to suit them, in a measurable way throughout the year. 6
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It’s all about STEM… Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths Students Get Involved
Experience a day of strategic, physical and mental challenges specifically designed to develop your business skills and allow you to showcase them to top UK companies talent A one-day event spotting for their future taking place on the 15th November positions. at Kempton Park To take part in this event register for a place by clicking here... brightfutures.co.uk/home/events
Race Course, open to students studying STEM related subjects, in their 1st, 2nd or 3rd years of study.
• Teams of four (We’ll place you into teams) • Opportunities to gain work placements with leading UK organisations.
This is a great opportunity for you to showcase your competitive edge in front of employers and network throughout the day with prizes awarded to the best performers. The challenges are innovative, observable, fun, scored using bespoke electronic software.
• Develop your professional skills and showcase these to top businesses.
who’s attending?
• Gain direct feedback on how to improve your readiness for employment. • Network with employers and like-minded students from across the UK. • Bring breadth & diversity to your employability portfolio. • Enjoy an unforgettable experience at one of London’s leading sports venues. • Easily accessible London location.
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We chose to be involved with the UK student challenge because it is an innovative opportunity to introduce graduates to our brand as well as to engage with proactive and high calibre graduates in a unique assessment environment. Emma Barbour
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Talent Acquisition Partner - Training Programmes
UK Power Networks
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Coca-Cola Enterprises are really keen to engage with students who can demonstrate the soft skills needed for successful careers within our business.
students who display these skills and tell them more about the opportunities we have for students of STEM subjects.
The STEM challenge is a great way for us to identify
Senior Professional, Talent Acquisition Coca-Cola Enterprises
Louisa Redfern
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www.brightfutures.co.uk www.northstarevents.co.uk
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events Top Tips to run a great Event on Campus – let’s hear from two of our Societies
The Science & Engineering Event at Strathclyde Bright Futures October 2013– over 300 attendees! I started planning the event in June, by first identifying companies, sending some enquiries and after some positive feedback and confirmations, booked a room and set a date. Starting the planning early really helped because it gave me loads of time to communicate details with employers and answer any questions well in advance. Top Tip #1: Plan well in advance. Once we had the event details confirmed, it was onto the most important part; making sure we had students there on the night. Because this event was specifically aimed at students from science and engineering backgrounds, it wasn’t only important that we got a good turnout, but that the students who attended were from relevant degrees. Top Tip 2: Use all the contacts you have in your committee and target specific events towards specific degrees. Around 2 weeks before the event, we created a Facebook group to act as the central area for sign up. We sent emails out to departments, shouted out before lectures of people and made sure that people knew which companies were going. By continuously updating through email and inviting to Facebook, along with help promoting by our neighbours Bright Futures Societies at Glasgow and Caledonian, we managed to create a real buzz around the event, with over 200 signed up on the day of the event.
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Top Tip 3: Where you can, collaborate with other Bright Futures Societies. On the day of the event, I had planned so that we had members of the committee meeting the employers and helping them set up. Around an hour after we started, we had a surprise visit from the door attendant on the night, who had been sent up for crowd control. This was definitely the first networking event I’ve ever attended that required a ‘One-In, One-Out’ policy! Top Tip 4: Keep people engaged and updated, the more people hear about the event the more likely they are to come along. At the end of the evening, we counted attendances of over 300 students, with 100 joining our mailing list and just under 60 becoming fully paid members. The event was a huge success as far as we were concerned, and here’s what some of the employers thought… ‘Really good event, brilliantly organised. Great calibre of students from all years of university which was good to see.’ ‘The event was very worthwhile and well organised by the Bright Futures team. We had the opportunity to meet with a wider range of students than we would normally reach through our recruitment activities. We would definitely be interested in attending the event again in future.’ ‘A very busy event which hopefully has interested lots of students in careers with us.’ Cheryl Carriga Strathclyde Bright Futures Committee
Lancaster Bright Futures Launch Event October 2013 “A lecture theatre packed with enthusiastic students is what any society would want for their first event. With over eighty people in one (relatively small) room – and even some students standing outside the door and peering in – we were feeling positive on Thursday 10th October, 6pm. Was our high attendance due to this event being our first of the year, or because we had invited Bright Futures CEO Simon Reichwald to run the event?” We may not know for certain, but following Simon’s hour-long presentation, titled ‘How to Get the Best Graduate Job’, the students certainly seemed to be impressed, claiming the event was “useful” and “engaging”. Over the past few years, Simon has travelled to universities across the UK and perfected this event to give students a comprehensive introduction to the graduate recruitment process, including his top tips gained from nearly 20 years in the recruitment industry.
Some Top Tips: During the event, we implemented a suggestion from a Regional Society Ambassador to acquire sign-up details from attendees, collecting a £3 membership fee after the event. This allowed us to register over twenty new members quickly and easily; we aim to replicate this technique in events to come. In addition, by capturing emails of those who attended the event we were able to send a short online feedback form to better understand our strengths and weaknesses to develop our future events; in this case, the only negative feedback was the size of the room! We also took the opportunity to promote our other events of the term, including a series of collaborative events with other societies (‘LUMS Societies Week’) and our flagship Dinner with Industry. Overall, we have high hopes for this year, and believe our first event with Simon is an excellent foundation to grow, engage and support our members.” Adam Stephenson Lancaster University Bright Futures Society
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The Board of President 2013 Calling all Bright Futures Presidents!
The Bright Futures Presidents Conference will be on the 21st of November 2013 at PwC’s offices in Birmingham. The aim of the Presidents Conference is to enhance the leadership skills and qualities of our Bright Futures Presidents as well as involve them in shaping the direction and development of the Bright Futures Society nationally.
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Additionally we will enable both employer and student to network, engage and build professional relationships not only for the Society and the company brand, but also as individuals and for the direct employment opportunities. An element of the Conference for our Presidents and Investor Employers will be to look beyond the day to day running of the Society and into the strategic running of the organisation – ‘Where do you see Bright Futures in 3-5 years time?’ ‘How should we deliver skills and services of the futures to our students, the committees and the companies?’
ts
On the day we will be covering:
• Leadership Skills • Contact with your Bright Futures Regional Ambassadors • Challenges and Highlights so far • Long Term Strategy for Bright Futures • Networking If you as a Society member want to directly effect change within your Society and on a National level, then feedback up through your committee so your President can bring all of this to the conference and represent YOU!
Bright Futures Society Presidents please register for the conference through our website: CLICK HERE. if you cannot attend then Vice Presidents should attend in your stead. 13
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g o l b t u o ab When I spoke to the team at Bright Futures about writing a blog for the HirEd EMagazine, I was struggling to find a topic that would be of use to those looking for jobs without repeating anything I’d written in my blog already. And then they suggested writing a blog about, blogging. Not only did I like the idea, it got me thinking about how much I’ve gained from first sitting down in front of a computer and writing a short piece on entrepreneurship about a year ago. Since then, I’ve written over 10,000 words, had guest blogs published on websites and been in the Bright Futures EMag a couple of times along with writing a joint piece with Salik Khan, another member of the Bright Futures Network. 14
Then I started to think about the job hunting benefits of writing a blog. Now, what I don’t want this to turn into is a technical guide on how to write your blog posts, because every blog (and blogger) is different. Some people prefer blogging through photographs, some through micro-blogging on Twitter or posting quotes or funny messages. No one way of doing it is better than the other. So, what I’m going to use this to do is to give you some reasons why blogging is such a great way of helping you become employable.
g n i gg 1: Increase your profile, for all the right reasons. Employers are connected to the internet, right? That means they are also connected to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and so on. Does this worry you? Yes? Why? The reason people are uncomfortable with employers being able to research you before they meet you is because they automatically think that it’ll affect their impression of you negatively. This doesn’t have to be the case. Blogging is a great way to create a positive profile for you and add value to your own personal brand by articulating yourself in a positive way. Imagine an employer searched you (Which most will) and they found a link to some content you’d written. Would you still be concerned about them looking you up? Or would you actually be keen for them to? Blogging is also a great way to make yourself interesting in interviews, when networking and in an application form. Make sure you include a link on your CV and direct people to have a read, it might be that one thing that makes you stand out from the rest
2: Blogging connects you with people you’d never have met before. No matter what you blog about, people will respond to you. You’ll be able to see how many people are reading, see what they thought through comments and connect with people who are interested in your topic. Make sure you’re shouting about what you’re doing on social media and connecting with people and companies who might be interested in what you’re writing about.
And, as for negative comment? It’s a great way for you to ask why they disagree, what they would add, and a brilliant way to test your skills in dealing with criticism in a positive way and learning from it .
3: Blogging should be enjoyable. Pick a topic you love, or at least enjoy! You shouldn’t be sitting down in the same way you would a paper for uni. If you pick something you thoroughly enjoy writing about, people will pick that up, they’ll respond positively to you, offer advice and you’ll be keen to publish more. Uni presents enough work that in itself, so don’t create more, make sure that when you write, you’re writing because you want to, not because you have to. Hopefully these 3 points really show the value in blog writing. So, pick a topic you love, start writing and posting and share it with your friends, networks along with people you don’t know and watch it develop. And don’t be afraid to shout about it in interviews and when networking, it’s a really interesting thing and is an easy way to demonstrate your passion, commitment and ability to articulate. Thanks for reading and if you need any inspiration, visit chrismilborrow.tumblr.com [Don’t be afraid of shamelessly plugging your blog, either!] Chris Milborrow, President, Bright Futures Strathclyde
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Phoebe’s Pantry This month you are all feeling the squeeze as your student’s loan is probably running out quite rapidly. So here is a cheap healthy option for a pot noodle and a Smoothie that will make you feel as right as rain. I hope that you enjoy! Best Smoothie for an Autumn morning especially when you are feeling a little under the weather!
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1 cup of cold milk 2 oranges 1 banana 1/4 cup of sugar 1 pinch of salt (optional) 4 cubes of ice Blend and enjoy
Smokey Bacon Pot Noodle
• 1 rasher of smoked bacon, trimmed and chopped • 2 spring onions, finely sliced • 50g of frozen Peas • Quarter tsp paprika • 2tsp cornflour • 200ml vegetable stock • 50g block straight-to-wok wheat noodles or equivalent or dried, cooked • Splash of Worcestershire sauce In a small pan, fry the bacon for a few minutes | Add the white parts of the spring onions to the bacon as well as the peas and paprika | Fry this for a minute more. | Mix in the corn flour with the a little bit of the vegetable stock until it makes a paste. | Stir the paste into the pan with the bacon | Add the stock, noodles and a good splash of Worcester sauce into the pan as well | Simmer for a few minutes until it becomes thick and saucy | Scatter the green part of the spring onions onto the top of your 17 pot noodle | Finally serve in a bowl.
Dynamic Keyboard Pro
Instance
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Platform: Android
Platforms: Windows Phone
We are all busy right? Ever feel like you would love to read something you find whilst browsing online but just don’t have the time? Formerly known as “Read it Later”, Pocket is perfect. It lets you pull articles and content off the web on your mobile and save them in a clear and readable format that you can view in your own time! You can even view it offline.
Ever feel like your thumbs are too big? Dso you evert wriyte sebntences loike thiss? No more. Dynamic keyboard changes as you type. This clever little app modifies the size and placement of the keys on your keyboard to match with the keys it thinks you will need (and yes it helps with the size of those thumbs). Small price tag but well worth it, especially when that email you sent quickly has an autocorrected mistake in it!
I have a Windows Phone. It works great, apart from the selection of apps. The essentials are there but some of the luxuries like Instagram are not. Until now. Instance is an UNOFFICIAL Instagram client that has all the same features and lets you have an Instagram account, just looks very different. It is in no way endorsed by Instagram but another great way to keep in the loop with a phone that is sometimes slightly out of it.
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Finance influences nearly every area of Aspen, contributing to its efficiency, profitability, and is vital to the company’s strategic performance.
Aspen
Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited is a leading global insurance and reinsurance company that has been listed on the NYSE since 2003, employing over 830 people across eight countries.
company profile
In my first year as an underwriting graduate at Aspen I’ve been exposed to a wide variety of risks, ranging from as small as your local pub to as large as the oil rigs standing in the Gulf of Mexico. When I joined Aspen in September 2012 I was excited to sink my teeth into underwriting, but also anxious that rotating around several teams over the two year programme would make it hard to specialise in a specific area. However, the rotation system is one of the biggest positives about the Grad scheme at Aspen as you have a chance to “try before you buy” and gain experience in a number of different underwriting teams before deciding where you want to specialise.
So far I have worked in Global Casualty, UK Commercial and Marine and Energy Insurance, have spent time in Dublin and have been exposed to a variety of clients through face to face meetings, presentations and conference calls. I am currently working in the Energy team where my day is always varied and exciting, with my time being split between the office and the Lloyds market. There is nowhere like the Lloyd’s building anywhere else in the world, a face-to-face market where differing insurers listen to brokers’ pitches. Once I’d been inside the building I knew the London insurance market was the place for me. Being able to interact with brokers on a daily basis is an incredible experience
To find out more about the Graduate Programme visit: www.aspen.co/Careers/Graduate-Programme 20
and one that many graduates wouldn’t have so early in their careers. This is where Aspen really excels as a place to learn. The exposure you get both to brokers and exciting risks around the market is something you wouldn’t get elsewhere, and the responsibility and trust placed in you so early on makes you feel part of a company that is constantly striving to assert itself as a market leader. At Aspen you can’t help but develop your career at an exciting pace! Tomais Gaughan is a 2012 graduate working within Underwriting
Development of our talent is very important to us. This programme was created to support and develop top candidates who can demonstrate that they are leaders in the making. Many of our senior leaders in the business today started out in our Graduate Programme. During this
programme, you will start your first five weeks with an intensive training focus to develop your understanding on dunnhumby’s ways of working, the use of our tools and capabilities, knowledge around the CPG and Retail industry and technical training on the programs we use to customize our work for our clients. From technical training to an explanation of our company’s history, we’ll make sure we do everything possible to set you up for success.
company profile
dunnhumby sits squarely at the intersection of Big Data and customer-centricity, bridging the gap between the analytical and the emotional, half-science, half-art, all passion for building the kinds of exceptional experiences that earn customers’ lifetime loyalty. More simply put, we use data and science to discover what makes customers happy, then we give it to them — and we could use your help. Join us on our mission to personalise the world’s experience of retailers and brands, one customer at a time.
dunnhumby
dunnhumby is the world’s leading customer science company. We analyse data and apply insights from more than 400 million customers across the globe to create better customer experiences and build loyalty. Our insights and strategic process help clients create competitive advantage and enjoy sustained growth.
which many of the roles here at dunnhumby can be categorised and give insight into the type of work we offer and the skillsets we seek in our Graduates. On your application you will be required to indicate which role you wish to apply for.
We’re looking for individuals who we believe have the ability to impact our company from the day they start. Typically, our graduates start out in roles such as Data Analyst, Data and Product Development, Client Executive or Account Executive. These are broad disciplines under
To find out more about a Graduate Career with dunnhumby visit: www.dunnhumby.com/uk/careers 21
Undergraduate and graduate career opportunities PwC
Your career is just that; yours. You choose it. You live it. You make it happen. To get the best from it, you need the best opportunities.
company profile
Opportunities are at the heart of a career with us. And we’re proud, based on the opportunity we offer, that students have voted us the number one Graduate Employer in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers survey for the last ten years. Our offer to you...
Ways you can join us Get a unique insight into what we offer on one of our undergraduate programmes ranging from our Talent Academy or Shadow a Female Leader Programme for first year students to our Summer Internships and Work Placements for penultimate year students. For final year students, join our graduate opportunities in one of our business areas; Assurance, Actuarial, Consulting, Deals, Tax and Technology. Don’t miss our new and unique Assurance & Consulting shared scheme programme.
• To be part of the world’s leading professional services network and enjoy the benefits that come with that. • Work directly with big name clients where you’ll get to grips with the value they’re looking for by getting into the detail. With offices UK wide we have • Provide an environment where you’ll something for everyone. be able to explore new opportunities, to help you grow and find your niche. • Give you access to be best learning and development around.
Take the opportunity of a lifetime. www.pwc.com/uk/careers www.facebook.com/PwCCareersUK 22
Keep checking our website for more information on our new virtual events. What you need to bring to us • A 2:1 or above in any degree subject (some programmes do require specific degrees) • A UCAS tariff of at least 300 (or equivalent) How to apply We know that the skills and experiences you develop with us, will stay with you throughout your career. So join us, and we’ll help you reach your full potential.
Be part of our world
mentors will encourage and inspire you, whether you’re interested in exploration, production or frontline customer service management. Plus, you’ll join an inclusive workplace where individuality is valued – so if you’re assertive, hard-working and ambitious, we’ll support you all the way.
Summer programme placements
Although our summer placements is designed to help you discover what you’re good at, we also want you to have fun. That’s why we’ll cover the costs of your accommodation and ensure you’re
Join our paid summer placements and you’ll work on real projects and develop a host of new skills. Over 10 weeks, our expert team of
company profile
As a top 30 FTSE 100 company with over 25 million customer accounts, a £22 billion turnover and more than 34,000 employees, we offer students in the UK unmatched training with a range of global brands: Centrica Energy, British Gas, and Centrica Storage.
Centrica
Centrica is an international energy company that sources, generates, processes, stores, trades, supplies, services and helps its customers save energy. Securing energy to power the future is an important priority for us, and we’re making vital investments across the entire energy spectrum.
located alongside other students on placement – to make sure your social life is as interesting as your studies. Find out what our previous summer placements have been up to by following #summeratcentrica.
Find out more: Website www.centrica.com/graduates Join us at www.facebook.com/centricagraduaterecruitment Or follow us at www.twitter.com/centricagrads 23
Change their lives. Change yours. TeachFirst
company profile
What is Teach First? How much you achieve in life should not be determined by how much your parents earn. Yet in the UK, it usually is. We believe in the power of education to change this. We are an independent charity working with others to give every child the right to a decent education. We train people with leadership potential to be inspirational teachers in schools in low-income communities across the country. These leaders go onto work in different sectors of society towards a future where no child’s educational success is limited by their socio-economic background. The Teach First journey begins with a unique two-year Leadership Development Programme – featuring a range of high-quality training opportunities and supportive coaching – that focuses on graduates’ ability to positively influence the achievements and aspirations of pupils and their access to further opportunities, both in education and beyond. How the journey develops will be down to the individual, but Teach First will provide the support and the
opportunities to progress rapidly, while always staying focused on engaging with our vision. Deadline: We recruit on a rolling basis and will fill our vacancies as we find those candidates that meet our competency and academic requirements. That means that the most popular subjects fill up very early, so we recommend that you apply as soon as possible. Selection criteria: • 2.1 degree or above, 300 UCAS points (or equivalent, excluding General Studies) • Have a degree or A-levels that satisfy our Teaching subject requirements Grade C (or equivalent) in GCSE Maths and English (Grade C in one Science GCSE is also required for Primary teaching eligibility) • Flexibility to work anywhere within our 10 locations around the UK. After these minimum requirements, selection is based on your ability to demonstrate relevant subject knowledge and eight competencies.
How to apply: To apply for Teach First you will need to register interest and fill in an online application form Number of graduate vacancies: 1550 vacancies across 9 regions in the UK and in Wales. We place participants in to primary and secondary schools. If you are successful at your assessment centre you will be made a conditional offer for the Leadership Development Programme. The subject you teach will be based on the needs of our schools and your eligibility. Salary: Competitive Teach First participants are employed, and paid by their primary or secondary school throughout the two years on the Leadership Development Programme. Salary is dependent on region you are placed in
To apply for Teach First you will need to register interest and fill in the online form : www.graduates.teachfirst.org.uk 24
Right now, we’re changing the focus of the retail bank from products to customers. Another key focus is on continued IT investment and efficiency, with £490 million of planned investment over three years and continued improvements in customer service. We’re also focused on recruiting exceptional talent into Santander UK in order to help build a strong pipeline of future leaders. Our graduate programme has been designed to provide the right candidates with a thorough and solid grounding to allow them to kick-start their career within Santander and their chosen
business area. We’re committed to making sure that development continues to be a much more significant part of the scheme, which is why our graduate programmes are usually offered in fields as diverse as Corporate and Commercial Banking, Finance, Global Operations, HR and Marketing, amongst others. Because we give you a high level of responsibility from day one and opportunities to get involved in essential networking, CSR and business events, our graduates receive the knowledge and experience needed to realise their full potential. As long as you
Santander
company profile
We’re one of the UK’s leading personal financial services companies and one of the largest providers of mortgages and savings products, with some 25 million customers, an extensive branch network, over 24,000 employees and more than 1.6 million Santander Group shareholders resident in the UK. demonstrate the required level of skills and behaviours, show us that you’re committed to making things simpler, personal and fair for our customers, and have the passion and enthusiasm to succeed, you’ll find that we’re the perfect company to develop your career with. It’s time to take the first steps in determining where your future could take you.
Visit www.santanderukgraduates.com and discover more. 25
We love analysing amazing applications
Thales
We love cracking the confusingly complex at Thales*. We love investigating the impossibly intractable. We love deciphering the dazzlingly difficult. And we love unravelling the unrelentingly unknowable. Why? Quite simply, creating the most ingenious technological systems and innovations is in our business DNA.
company profile
As a major engineering and technology company, our work touches all of our lives – every single day. From BACS, the secure network communications system behind 3.7 billion secure electronic transactions every year, to in-flight entertainment systems for passenger planes and stateof-the-art equipment for military aircraft, the scope and scale of our problem-solving abilities knows no bounds. Talented people are the key to our success. So from the outset we’ll encourage you to become professionally qualified and give you the training to realise your potential. Our comprehensive Graduate Development Programme (GDP) runs parallel with your
For more informtaion visit: www.ukgrads.thalesgroup.com 26
Engineering role or placements on the Business Programme. It offers everything from an introduction to our organisation, culture and processes to formal training in the form of seminars, specialist courses and visits. We will also pay your annual membership fees for a relevant professional institution. The Thales UK graduate Development Programme is accredited by the following Engineering Institutions: IET, IMechE, Royal Aeronautical Society and Institute of Physics. We recruit on a rolling basis. Our application system is opened for a period of approximately one month and then closed to reassess recruitment needs.
If additional applications are required the system will reopen and will subsequently be closed approximately one month later. This process is repeated until our recruitment needs are met. So, in order to allow us analyse your amazing application, we recommend submitting it as soon as possible.
Leading lawyers. Great clients. And an unrivalled commercial approach to business. At RPC we offer a depth of knowledge and creativity that few firms can rival and combine this with high quality training programmes that are consistently lauded in the leading directories. Headquartered in a state of the art site in the City of London, we also have stunning offices in Bristol, Hong Kong and Singapore. Our open plan, collaborative working environment – where knowledge is easily shared and access to partners an everyday reality – is designed to bring out the best in our people and to ensure that the service we offer our clients is second to none. And it is.
We provide top quality legal services to global businesses across a wide range of industry sectors and practices, including insurance, commercial litigation, construction, engineering and projects, corporate/M&A, IP and technology, media, real estate, employment and pensions, outsourcing, regulatory, tax and competition.
company profile
RPC
RPC Training Contract applications are open for Bristol and London – Apply now!
If you like a challenge and want to join us in challenging convention, we’re offering training contracts in both London and Bristol, on a full–time contract for two years.
Twice nominated as Law Firm of the Year in 2013, in 2012 we won Insurance Team of the Year at the Legal Business Awards, Corporate Team of the Year (midcap) at The Lawyer Awards, and Service Provider of the Year at the British Insurance Awards, as well as being voted by the Financial Times as one of the most innovative firms in Europe.
www.rpc.co.uk/manifesto or follow us on twitter @LifeinaLawFirm 27
Wragge & Co
Our training contracts have one simple aim: to help you become the lawyer you want to be. Applications for our 2014 vacation schemes are now open. Ben Goldby (trainee) shares his experience of our vacation scheme.
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I spent the first week of my vacation scheme in the Commercial Litigation department. My supervisor (typically an experienced solicitor or associate) kept me busy and was always friendly and approachable, giving me plenty of work and good feedback. The tasks included a meeting in a judge’s chambers, sitting in and taking notes on a call with counsel, various research jobs and some analysis of contracts. It was a challenge, particularly as I was barely out of the first year of my part-time GDL, but it was fun, and every task was well explained and aimed at giving me the opportunity to show different skills. Don’t run away with the idea that you need to be some sort of legal mastermind on your
vacation scheme, you don’t, it’s all about attitude and enthusiasm, show people you are willing to work hard and apply the skills you do have to help them, and you will be rewarded with challenging and interesting tasks. Of course the vacation scheme isn’t all work, there’s plenty of socialising involved too. We were taken for evening drinks by the trainees and sent off on a treasure hunt around Birmingham together as an ice breaker on the first day. I felt going into the vacation scheme that Wragge & Co could be the right place for me, and I found out first hand that the firm lives up to its single team mantra.
For more information on how to apply, please visit our website: www.wragge.com/graduate 28
Everyone from the graduate recruitment team through to the partners had the same friendly, open and welcoming approach, and the firm’s focus on training and bringing through young lawyers was obvious. By the time I left the vacation scheme, I was absolutely certain that the firm was the right fit for me. When I got the call offering me a training contract, I didn’t think twice, and I haven’t looked back since. Ben Goldby Trainee
GE’s Edison Engineering Development Programme (EEDP)
What does the Edison programme entail? EEDP is a two-year programme focused on technology and leadership. It consists of three or more rotational engineering assignments in different departments, driven by GE business priorities. The programme cultivates technical problem-solving skills via lectures by GE experts, coursework, formal reports and presentations. What was the most valuable aspect of the programme? The most valuable aspects were the advanced engineering lectures and coursework given by GE experts. Since these were given by people with relevant industry experience, they concentrated on
the practical side of engineering. This compliments the theoretical background that comes with a university degree. How has the programme helped you develop your career? The programme has given me a very broad knowledge of engineering and I can now appreciate the many sides of engineering that make a product come together. What’s your advice for someone thinking about the programme? The programme greatly accelerates professional and technical development so it is intensive and requires significant commitment outside of working hours. You need to be fully committed and have a positive attitude towards tasks of any difficulty to get the most benefit. But it will be worth every minute you put into it!
How can I apply for the programme?
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Alexey Likhoded, Edison Graduate at GE Aviation, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
GE Aviation
is an IET Accredited graduate scheme for individuals with a passion for technology and a drive for technical excellence. Development is accelerated through intense technical training, and varied project assignments, giving Edison’s the technical and business foundation to make innovative contributions to GE’s future.
Visit www.ge.com/careers and enter the following job numbers: 1766013 - Classic Edison Programme - (Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Avionics, Systems Engineering, Electronic Engineering or similar) 1766035 - Software Edison Programme (Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Software Engineering, Computer Systems Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science or similar) Do you offer engineering placements? Apply for a placement at www.ge.com/careers using the following job numbers: 1855669 - 2014 Summer Engineering Placement 1855652 - 12-month Engineering Placement, starting August 2014
www.ge.com/careers 29
Bechtel
It is the time of year to submit your applications. This can be a complicated and confusing process. At Bechtel we pride ourselves on making the complicated simple. To guide you through our application process we’ve answered some common questions and get your application sent in!
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How do I apply? With an online CV and covering letter. What is the recruitment process? If your application is successful you will be invited to an interview with a manager from your discipline and a HR representative. There are two parts to the interview process: a technical interview and a competency-based interview. What is a competency-based interview? A competency-based interview focuses on experiences you have had and how you have handled certain situations. This helps us understand your strengths and how you would perform as part of Bechtel’s Graduate Development Programme.
Who can apply for the Graduate Development Programme? Graduates with at least a 2:1 result in a relevant degree, or equivalent. How long will I have to wait before hearing about my application? You will receive an acknowledgement email after your online application, and will be kept informed of your progress through email correspondence. Our interview stage shall be the beginning of the new year, so do not be concerned if you do not hear from us until next term. Is the Graduate Development Programme accredited? Yes! Currently we’re accredited by the Institute of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Civil Engineering, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Electrical Engineering, Institute
If you’d like to discover more visit : www.bechtel.com 30
of Measurement and Control, and British Computer Society. How long is the Graduate Development Programme? The Graduate Development Programme last four years. However, your training and development won’t stop there. We’re committed to providing you with ongoing training and development throughout your career. Where will I be located? Whilst our main UK offices are located in London we are an international business. The ideal candidates would be interested in taking advantage of international assignments when they arise in order to enrich their professional experience and meet the needs of the business.
Domestic & General
Hello, I’m Darragh O’Sullivan, and I will be writing a regular update describing my time in the Domestic and General Management Graduate Scheme.
My first role is with the International Marketing department, and I’m joining at a very exciting time as the company is continuing to grow internationally after a recent change in ownership. The first month has been full of inductions and lunches; meeting
up with colleagues I will be working with. There is also a buddy system where previous graduates can help the new grads to settle in quickly. This has made us all feel welcome and has been a great excuse to test the local restaurants in the area!
All in all it has been a great start albeit with a lot to take in. Marketing is an ideal department to begin in and learn about the business as a whole. I will have another update soon, with more details on my role as a graduate within the company.
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I graduated this summer from the University of Nottingham reading Management Studies with French. I really enjoyed my previous work experience in the insurance industry, and wanted a London graduate scheme that would give me plenty of training and support. Domestic and General ticked all the boxes as it offered 3 six month placements in different departments; all headquartered in Wimbledon. After a thorough 5 stage assessment, including an interview with the CEO, I was delighted to be offered the job!
I am already helping out on 2 big projects within the team and have been given plenty of responsibility; so I know I’m going to be very busy over the next 6 months. I had been here only 5 minutes and I was already booking my Euro-star tickets to visit the Paris office! After working in France for a year during my degree, I am enjoying the international aspect to my job and understanding some important lessons in international business. There are more exciting trips ahead where I will be visiting our other European offices, in Italy, Germany and Spain.
To find out more and apply, visit: careers.domesticandgeneral.com/graduate 31
Bank of England
As the country’s central bank, we play a fundamental role in the UK economy - ensuring monetary stability and contributing to financial stability. Our work has an impact on the entire nation. Choose a career with us and you will have the chance to apply your knowledge, develop your skills, and truly make a difference.
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This is a high-profile opportunity in an organisation that affects the lives of people across the UK. Our diverse organisation offers opportunities from HR to Finance through to Monetary Analysis and Markets. You also have the chance to be part of the new Prudential Regulation Authority, a subsidiary of the Bank promoting the stability of the UK financial system. It’s an exciting time to join our evolving organisation, and we’re keen to train and develop graduates who can help us meet the challenges ahead.
Exceptional training and development will prepare you for early responsibility, but you’ll also enjoy an excellent work-life balance. We’ll stretch you, but in a way that will bring out the best in you. We see our graduates as a long-term investment and we know it’s an approach that works because many go on to build substantial careers with the Bank.
Open to graduates from all degree disciplines, the programme will give you the chance to be involved in challenging projects. Right from the outset you could be gathering critical information, undertaking detailed analysis, even contributing to reports for senior members of staff.
Upon joining, many people are surprised by just how friendly, welcoming, and open our environment is. It’s not the only surprising thing about us. So take a closer look, and see the Bank differently. Applications are still open for all of our graduate, intern and Postgraduate programmes but will close at 5pm on the 11th November. We don’t make any decisions until this deadline is over so you still have some time to get your application in!
To apply and find out more information visit www.bankofenglandgraduates.co.uk and for some application advice you can watch our video here 32
Technology Consulting – Tech Talks
KPMG’s technology programmes are one of the fastest growing graduate areas too, as we expand our teams with forward thinking, digitally savvy and curious people with the ambition, ability and autonomous approach to drive change
In response, KPMG has bought four people together to discuss two topics being hotly debated by the general public, and our own thought leaders. Our free ‘Tech Talks’ will not only lift the lid on some big issues, they’re also interactive. Whether you’re a technical wizard or you only access the digital world through your mobile, the debates are relevant and designed to get you thinking about wider data privacy issues, as well as your own cyber identity.
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Technology’s ever-evolving. Smartphones are in almost everyone’s pocket. Sharing, processing and downloading online data is increasing. And as a result, our cyber teams are supporting more clients than ever before.
KPMG
An increase in the use of technology, the smartphone and the internet for sharing, processing and downloading data has meant a huge growth in the number of clients the KPMG cyber team are working for.
To find out more: www.kpmgcareers.co.uk 33
Looking to make an impact …?
Hiscox
Hiscox, a FTSE250 company, leads the pack when it comes to the world of specialist insurance. We are experts in protection of a wide range of personal and commercial risks, which are often too complex or too much trouble for other insurance companies to consider.
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We are on the lookout for intelligent, commercial and committed individuals to join our business. Our international two year graduate programme is designed to give you immediate hands-on exposure, gaining on the job training from highly-respected professionals. Whilst working in your allocated team you will undertake at least three secondments across the Group and overseas (to either the US, Europe or Bermuda) to enhance your commercial awareness, combined with professional study and a comprehensive training programme. We recruit graduates to develop across a wide range of professions. The thoughts of some of our Graduates follow, if you are interested in seeing more you can visit www.hiscoxgroup.com/ graduates where you can watch a short video of Graduates discussing their experiences.
“I graduated in international relations and politics and was looking for a job that could combine both macroperspective analysis and diversity in the daily work. Whatever the countries, from Iraq to Nigeria or the type of organisations, from top companies to NGO, we are keen to design tailor-made covers for the very specific risks of kidnapping for ransom, extortion and piracy. Two aspects of being underwriter at Hiscox that I particularly appreciated: the appropriate mix between forecasting, prospective and reality from the ground.” - Doris Pajon, Trainee Underwriter, Kidnap & Ransom “When looking at places to start my career, the insurance industry seemed the best place for me to balance my interest in international and current affairs but also my desire to work in a corporate, commercial environment.
Being part of the graduate scheme does make you quite visible in the company and as my time on the scheme progresses, I’d like to make more use of the international exposure we have and see what is happening businesswide across the Hiscox Group.” - Ella Writer, Trainee Marketing Executive In addition to our Graduate Programme we also offer a Summer Internship programme for undergraduates. As a Hiscox intern you won’t spend eight weeks watching others work or standing by the copier. You will spend a stimulating and rewarding summer gaining an understanding of how a modern, international business operates, as well as getting experience of the wider insurance scene.
To learn more about both programmes, or to apply, visit www.hiscoxgroup.com/graduates 34
Chad is one of our many graduates who embrace every challenge and opportunity to learn, whatever they might be. Just five months after he joined us on our graduate programme he was in charge of £120m of business – and buying for three categories. If you’d like to follow in Chad’s footsteps, you can find out more about applying for a career at www.tesco-graduates.com , but for now, he has shared his pearls of wisdom on making the most of university life:
TIP 1 – GET INVOLVED AND DO THINGS YOU ENJOY
TIP 3 – DON’T WASTE THE SUMMER
Get involved and enjoy university life – never again will you have the freedom and ability to experience the lifestyle you have at university – so make the most of it! There are all sorts going on at universities, so I would say get involved in stuff you enjoy, whether it’s sport, or other societies like surfing or gaming.
Make the most of your summers, whether is travelling or internships. I did both, loved travelling saw some amazing places, and the work experience alongside my placement, this helps you answer them questions at the assessment centres like when have you had to implement change to a process or worked with difficult people how did you influence them.
TIP 2 – AIM FOR A 2.1
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We hope you’re finding your way by now. You’ll figure things out in your own time, and have a lot of fun in doing it. But to help you along, one of our graduates has some top tips for making the most of the whole university experience.
KPMG
One year in and Chad has learnt all about Stavrotos, Spergolas & Scuppernongs
Aim to get at least a 2.1 – you’ll find that when you come to apply for graduate programmes it’s pretty much a minimum requirement.
To find out more about Chad, our other graduates, and how a little help goes a long, long way, visit www.tesco-graduates.com/meet-our-graduates 35