The University of Essex has been shortlisted in the National Council for Work Experience (NCWE) Awards for the outstanding work placement opportunities it offers.
The University’s unique initiative, called frontrunners, gives students the opportunity to undertake challenging paid employment around the University and develop the higher-level skills necessary to compete for the best jobs.
Director of Employability Dave Stanbury said: “We believe this scheme is crucial to future graduate success as it develops the essential skills needed to compete in the current tough labour market and are therefore delighted to have been shortlisted for this award.”
The NCWE Awards recognise organisations from all sectors and sizes that provide exceptional student and graduate internships and work placements. They are now in their ninth year and this year saw a record number of entries.
The University of Essex will compete against five other organisations for the Best Public Sector title.
Award winners will be announced on Tuesday 20 March at a special ceremony at Merchant Taylors’ Hall in London.
Mike Hill, chief executive of the Higher Education Careers Services Unit which operates NCWE, said: “We’ve had a fantastic response from students, which is a great reflection on organisations like the University of Essex that are striving to offer high quality schemes.”
The judging panel represents the full internship and work placement process and features a number of senior professionals, including specialists from Which? and Regent’s College.
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
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Note to Editors
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.
frontrunners is open to all University of Essex students and offers on-placement training. Placements are between one and three terms in length and up to 12 hours per week during term time and 20 hours per week over the summer.
The scheme also supports students in developing their ability to reflect on and articulate the skills they have acquired. At the end of the last academic year, 100 per cent of students involved in frontrunners said that they would recommend the experience to a friend.
For more information about frontrunners go to: www.essex.ac.uk/frontrunners/