Member Article

Top 100 Undergraduate Employers revealed

RateMyPlacement.co.uk has thrown down a challenge to undergraduate employers by publishing its portrait of what the ultimate undergraduate placement or internship would look like.

Featuring a world-beating level of support and revelling in some sumptuous perks including free ice-cream, discount clothing sales, theatre tickets and office treasure hunts, the Ultimate Placement or Internship is a synthesis of the very best elements of the undergraduate programmes provided by companies in the UK.

The Ultimate Placement or Internship has been published to coincide with the announcement of RateMyPlacement’s annual table of the Top 100 Undergraduate Employers. Drawn from over 5,000 reviews written by students throughout the 2014-15 academic year, the table ranks organisations that provide 15 or more students a year with placements, internships, vacation schemes and insights. They must also have at least 15 reviews on the website.

This year sees financial giant Bank of America Merrill Lynch gain the coveted number one spot after several years of steady progress up the chart. The bank received reviews averaging over 9.05 out of 10 in areas such as amount of responsibility given, feeling valued by colleagues, impression of the company overall, training opportunities and transferable skills gained.

Kate Eggers, Campus Marketing Manager at Bank of America Merrill Lynch said: “We pride ourselves on hiring, motivating and retaining the best people. To be ranked the number one employer in this survey is a phenomenal accolade that supports our dedication to develop young talent and shape the future leaders of our company.”

The dominance of financial companies in the Top 100 is clear but there have also been successes in other sectors. Entertainment giant Warner Bros climbed an impressive 39 places to occupy the number three spot and Microsoft returned to number six in this year’s table. Lucy Saunders, University Recruitment Lead at Microsoft UK said: “We are going through a huge transformation at Microsoft and to have undergraduates coming to us with their fresh ideas and modern perspectives is so important to us.”

RateMyPlacement.co.uk also provides insight into what undergraduates can expect to be paid during their placement or internship. Although salaries have risen this year in half of the UK regions, they have seen no increase or have decreased in the other half. Salaries in Central London and the City have dropped 4% since last year while in Wales they’ve decreased by 7%.

Ollie Sidwell, Co-founder at RateMyPlacement.co.uk, commented: “Choosing the right undergraduate employment is one of the most important decisions that a young person can make. With such a competitive jobs market it’s vital that students find an opportunity to complement their university learning with practical experience gained in the workplace.

“Our Top 100 table gives students a leg-up in seeing the range of companies at which they could thrive, as well as providing employers a high-profile platform with which to attract the very best undergraduates.

“The drop in salaries paid to undergraduates in some areas is concerning. A placement or internship is a brilliant place to gain vital experience and it’s important that students are paid at a reasonable level that allows them to complete their time at a company without financial worries.

“That said, the fact that so many UK companies are seeing it as a matter of pride that they feature in our Top 100 table can only be a good thing. This will ensure that the quality of opportunities for our young people will continue to rise and will bring a myriad of benefits, not only to the students and their employers but also to the country as a whole.”

For the full 100 please visit: http://bit.ly/RMPT100

RMP’s Ultimate Placement or Internship – Job Description

RateMyPlacement.co.uk has created a portrait of what the ultimate undergraduate placement or internship would look like.

Here is a fantasy job description drawn from the best perks offered by companies in RateMyPlacement’s Top 100 Undergraduate Employers:

You will spend your year in an exciting, supportive environment in which your progress is guided by both your line manager and an appointed buddy, who will act as your confidante and friend throughout the placement. The work will always be stimulating and you’ll be given space and time to grow and to learn.

You will be given access to a range of sumptuous perks including theatre vouchers, ice-cream at your desk, lunchtime yoga sessions and Friday fancy dress parties at the complimentary company bar. You may even represent your company at cricket or netball.

Your year will end with either the offer of a job or an unbeatable reference in your back pocket and a portfolio of experience to entice and delight potential employers. You will look back and think of your placement or internship as one of the very best experiences of your life.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ollie Sidwell .