L-R: Katie Stone, work placement student at TUI and Rachel McAneny, trading assistant for TUI with Jim Birtwell from sponsors Changeboard and Heather Collier (NCWE)

TUI Travel PLC, the BBC and learnpurple are some of the best places to find an internship as the National Council for Work Experience (NCWE) announces the winners of its annual Awards. 

TUI Travel PLC, the world’s leading international leisure travel group, beat more than 250 companies to be crowned overall winner at yesterday’s (23 March 2010) ceremony at Merchant Taylors’ Hall in London. Gordon McKenzie, director for the office for graduate opportunities for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills presented 23 NCWE Awards* across 11 categories, rewarding companies that have demonstrated exceptional work placements. 

Award winning organisations came from a range of sizes and sectors including Barclays, BBC and Audiences North East. This year saw the introduction of the Best Work Placement Diversity Scheme category, which was won by Pinsent Masons LLP. 

TUI Travel PLC also won Best Work Experience Provider in the ‘new scheme’ and ‘over 250 employees (long-term placements, employing less than 20 students)’ categories. Talent retention specialist, learnpurple received a Highly Commended Award in the ’10-250 employees’ category. 

Heather Collier, director of the NCWE comments: “We’re now in the seventh year of the awards and their increasing popularity reflects the growing importance of work experience in allowing students to develop skills while providing companies a talent pool for recruitment. With more companies competing than ever before our winners have done exceptionally well, demonstrating best practice for others to follow.” 

Rachel McAneny, trading assistant for TUI UK and Ireland said: “We were delighted to have won both categories, but to have been crowned overall winners was the icing on the cake. We believe we provide an exceptional experience for our students, offering a well-planned approach, exciting opportunities and a supportive environment, so it’s fantastic to receive recognition from the National Council for Work Experience.”
The NCWE Awards encourage and reward employers who take the lead in the provision of valuable work placement opportunities for undergraduates; setting high standards for others to follow by offering fulfilling work placements that help students to bridge the gap between education and the world of work. 

This year’s sponsors include Changeboard, AGR, GlaxoSmithKline and Centrica.
For further information visit www.work-experience.org/awards 

 

Full list of winners including those short-listed and highly commended: 

Overall winner 2010: TUI Travel PLC 

Over 250 Employees – Long term placements employing less than 20 students (4-12 months)
Winner: TUI Travel PLC
Highly Commended: Yorkshire Forward
Fujitsu
Carnival UK
Magnox North
Badenoch & Clark 

Over 250 Employees – Long term placements employing more than 20 students (4-12 months)
Winner: Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Highly Commended: Accenture
GlaxoSmithKline
IBM UK Ltd
Microsoft
PSA Peugeot Citroen 

Over 250 Employees – Short term placements (0-3 Months)
Winner: Centrica
Highly Commended: Barclays Capital
BP
Shell
Citi
Accenture 

10-250 employees
Winner: ProspectSoft Ltd
Highly Commended: learnpurple
Portal Technology Systems Limited
px
Asidua
Quantum TM 

Under 10 employees
Winner: Audiences North East
Highly Commended: Fuel
Remode
Petersens PR
Surface + Light + Space
Blue Rocket 

Public sector
Winner: BBC (BBC Blast)
Highly Commended: Yorkshire Forward
Civil Service Fast Stream
Bank of England
Welsh Assembly Government
National Oceanography Centre, Southampton : Information Technology Group 

Charitable sector
Winner: Which?
Highly Commended: Bryson Family Services
British Red Cross
Southern Housing Group
Barnardo’s
Cancer Research UK 

New placement schemes (within last 2 years)
Winner: TUI Travel PLC
Highly Commended: The University of Nottingham, Centre for Career Development
Lexington Catering Ltd
The Co-operative Group
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Lidl Limited 

Best Work Experience Provider – As nominated by a careers adviser, jobshop or placement tutor
Winner: International Sourcing Limited
Highly Commended: Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Axion Consulting
Saltire Foundation
Crocodile Clips Ltd
CMS Cameron McKenna LLP 

Best Work Experience Provider – As nominated by a student
Winner: Lockheed Martin UK
Highly Commended: Saltire Foundation
International Sourcing Limited
Environment Agency
Yooz
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 

Best Work Placement Diversity Scheme
Winner: Pinsent Masons LLP
Highly Commended: Citi
GlaxoSmithKline
Civil service Fast stream
Barclays Wealth
Channel 4 Television Corporation