Fashion retailer George at Asda has won the overall prize in the inaugural NCWE Awards, the first initiative specifically set up to recognise, encourage and reward the provision of quality work placements for students.
The Leicester-based companyís placement scheme stood out as exceptional because significant resource has been invested in every stage, from a pre-induction held two months before joining, a two week induction period, listening groups during the first 12 weeks to check how students and settling in, on-going mentoring and roles provided that are essential to the companyís business performance.
Devised by the National Council for Work Experience (NCWE) and sponsored by its parent body, CSU, the higher education Careers Services Unit, the awards reward organisations that display good practice in work experience and provide an opportunity that is beneficial to both the student and the organisation.
In addition to winning the overall prize George at Asda won the category for organisations with over 250 employees, while haircare manufacturer Wella UK was runner-up. In the category for organisations with less than 250 employees the winner was engineering consultancy Tony Gee and Partners (TGP) and the runner-up was Netsight Internet Solutions.
The National Trust ñ Dunster Castle was named winner in the voluntary sector category while environmental regeneration charity Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale was runner-up. And in the public sector category the winner was The Defence Analytical Service Agency (DASA) which provides analytical and statistical services to the Ministry of Defence, and the runner-up was Kent Police College.
NCWE director Liz Rhodes comments:
ìWe had a total of 45 nominations and were extremely impressed with the high standard of work experience schemes being undertaken across all of the different sectors. Work placements can be of great value to both students and employers, but it is important that they are of sufficient quality to ensure the best outcomes for both parties. These awards recognise companies and organisations that are genuinely committed to work experience.î
The criteria for the awards covered every stage of the work placement process from the involvement of managers and staff in the decision to offer a work placement, the administrative processes that are set up, the design of an induction programme, objective setting and on-going support, through to the specific outputs generated by the student. Each of 17 short listed companies was visited by members of the judging panel which was led by Hugh Smith, former head of graduate recruitment at BT and vice president of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, who adds:
ìEach criterion was assessed in terms of the evidence that it has been met, the quality of the evidence and of the organisationís approach to the placement. We were impressed by what we read on the nomination forms and saw during the visits. All of the winners and runners-up richly deserve recognition for the excellent schemes they have initiated.î
The George at Asda work placement scheme is managed by Resourcing Manager Paul Jenkins, who attended the awards lunch in London with Head of People, Karen Powell.
ìWe are thrilled to have won not only our category but the overall award,î says Powell, who believes there are many benefits to running the scheme. ìWe have 15 placement students each year who are high calibre, talented colleagues. They come to us to learn and we benefit from their sharp minds and enthusiasm. We recruit six graduates to work for us every year and this scheme is an excellent recruitment method, enabling us to fully assess who is best suited to a long term future with the company.î
As with all of the winners and runners-up George at Asda has developed excellent partnerships with universities and higher education institutions. The company was nominated for the award by Angela Peers, Principal Lecturer, who looks after external relations with the clothing industry for Manchester Metropolitan University. She explains why she made the nomination:
ìGeorge at Asda runs an excellent placement programme that provides a good all round experience for the student. It underpins the first two years of their course, helps the student to develop both technically and personally and enhances their employability skills.î
Also on the judging panel for the awards were Bob Gilworth, director of the Careers Centre at the University of Leeds, John Sutton, assistant director at the Small Business Service and Julie Ingham, head of marketing at CSU.
George at Asda top winner in work experience awards
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