Work Experience Awards shortlist announced : 2 February 2012

After receiving a record number of entries this year, the National Council for Work Experience (NCWE) is pleased to announce the shortlist* for its 2012 Awards.

The NCWE Awards received 50% more entries from companies, careers advisers and students this year. The categories for large businesses and law firms were particularly competitive.

Mike Hill, chief executive of the Higher Education Careers Services Unit, which operates the NCWE says: 'The NCWE Awards have been more popular than ever this year, reflecting the central role work experience is playing in business today. We’ve had a fantastic response from students, which is a great reflection on the companies who are striving to offer high quality schemes.'

The NCWE Awards are now in their ninth year. They recognise businesses from all sectors and sizes that provide exceptional student and graduate internships across 13 categories. Companies up for awards this year include IBM and BP in the Best Large Organisation categories and the British Red Cross and Cancer Research UK in the Best Charity category.

The judging panel represents the full internship process through a number of senior professionals, including specialists from Which? and Regent’s College. The winners will be announced on Tuesday 20 March at Merchant Taylors’ Hall in London by Dr Paul Redmond from The University of Liverpool, one of the UK’s leading experts on graduate employability.

This year’s sponsors include the AGR, Changeboard, GlaxoSmithKline, Centrica, Holiday Extras, CRCC Asia, PlaceNet and Intel.

For further information visit www.work-experience.org/awards

*SHORTLISTED COMPANIES FOR NCWE AWARDS 2012

Work Placement of the Year:

Best Large Organisation with Over 250 Employees

• Long-term Placements (20+ Students)
  • Accenture
  • Fujitsu
  • Hays Specialist Recruitment Ltd
  • IBM
  • Jagex Games Studio
  • Microsoft
• Long-term Placements (Fewer than 20 Students)
  • BP
  • Citi
  • Panasonic
  • PSA Peugeot Citroen
  • TUI UK & Ireland
  • Zurich UK Life
• Short-term Placements (up to 3 months duration)
  • BBC
  • BP
  • Cancer Research UK
  • Centrica
  • Infosys Ltd.
  • PwC

Best SME (10-250 Employees)

• Ash Gaming
• Asidua Limited
• Clock Limited
• Houlder
• ProspectSoft Ltd
• Quantum Marketing

Best Micro Enterprise (Under 10 Employees)

• 2LS Limited
• Champions Life Academy
• NoChintz
• Petersens Ltd.
• St Mary's Accounting Services

Best Newcomer (set up within last 2 years)

• Aon
• John Lewis
• PwC
• SCA Hygiene Products UK LTD
• Xafinity Consulting - Part of the Equiniti Group
• Zurich UK Life

Public Sector

• The Alchemy Exchange at Sheffield Hallam University
• Careers and Employability Centre, University of Birmingham
• Civil Service Fast Stream
• GCHQ
• University of Aberdeen
• University of Essex

Charitable Sector

• Action Against Hunger
• Barnardo's
• British Red Cross
• Bryson CareWest
• Cancer Research UK
• Restoration of Appearance and Function Trust (RAFT)

Law Sector

• Farrer & Co LLP
• Field Fisher Waterhouse
• Linklaters
• Nabarro LLP
• Shearman & Sterling (London) LLP
• Simmons & Simmons LLP

Work Placement of the Year – as nominated by a careers adviser, jobshop or placement tutor

• Ayton Global Research
• Burges Salmon
• Conwy Borough Council
• Envirolink Northwest
• Exeter City Football Club
• Wunderman

Best Employment Experience – as nominated by a student

• Barnardo's
• BBC (Kick Off Reports)
• IBM
• Microsoft
• Snowdon Mountain Railway
• Unilever

Graduate Internship of the Year 2012:

Best Organisation with Over 250 Employees

• Barnardo's
• Cancer Research UK
• Centrica
• Citi
• Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Scottish Water

Best Organisation with Fewer than 250 Employees

• abdi Ltd
• Air and Ground Aviation Limited
• CMC Consulting
• Credos
• People & Planet
• Student Hubs

National Council for Work Experience is part of HECSU, the Higher Education Careers Services Unit.  It promotes, supports and develops quality work experience for the benefit of students, organisations and the economy.  This includes disseminating information and good practice, the development of quality standards and more employers to provide placement opportunities.