2025 Sponsors

Headline partner
also sponsoring the best apprenticeship programme award and the early careers professional of the year award

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the world's most forward-thinking professional accountancy body. With 125,000 global job opportunities posted on ACCA Careers every month, they're among the world's best-qualified and most highly sought-after accountants - and they work in every sector you can imagine.

Finance is the universal language of business. So, there’s no such thing as an average accountant. Our members become CEOs, finance directors, entrepreneurs, sustainability trailblazers and public sector leaders. Accountancy really does give you options for a rewarding career.

Employers seek out ACCA-trained professionals because they know it is the sign of excellence. Which means you'll have the competitive edge to build the career you've been imagining. And our global community and career planning tools will show you paths and opportunities you never knew existed.

The ACCA apprenticeship programme helps people from all backgrounds and career stages to build a globally-recognised foundation in accounting, finance and business. For apprentices, it's the chance to earn as they learn. For employers, it's a cost-effective way of bringing vital skills and sharp thinking to your business that's easier than you think.

We are proud to sponsor the best apprenticeship programme award. We are passionate about helping students achieve their potential when searching and applying for graduate roles and transitioning to employment.

To find out more visit accaglobal.com.

Sponsoring the AGCAS award for excellence in careers and employability service engagement award

AGCAS is the expert membership organisation for higher education student career development and graduate employment professionals. Through our members, we support the best possible career outcomes from higher education for individuals, institutions, society and the economy.

The AGCAS Award has been part of the targetjobs Awards since 2008. Managed by AGCAS, it considers both local and national employer – university partnerships.

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Sponsoring the best innovation in assessment and selection award

The AMS Early Careers and Campus group is proud to sponsor the best innovation in assessment and selection award.

AMS - We are a talent solutions business

Working with clients across the globe, we have learnt what it takes to build a high performing employer. It starts with talent; sourcing, selecting and keeping the right people in the right jobs.

To do this well, you need unmatched expertise in digital innovation, and a deep understanding of the complex needs of the talent you are seeking to engage – whether that talent is external to your business or already inside it.

Taking a holistic approach to the HR value chain and to attracting and retaining a world class workforce enables business success.

10,000+ experts, across 120+ countries, speaking more than 50 languages, delivering projects for the world’s most admired companies.

We are AMS. This is what we do. Talent is our world.

Sponsoring the best social mobility strategy

At American Express, we strive to live our values in all that we do.

We back our colleagues in work and life by prioritising well-being, fostering an inclusive culture, and supporting and rewarding personal and professional growth every step of the way.

By facing each day with a strong sense of purpose, our colleagues are growing, learning, and leading the way together.

Sponsoring the best use of AI in recruitment

Arm is the industry’s highest-performing and most power-efficient compute platform with unmatched scale that touches 100 percent of the connected global population. To meet the insatiable demand for compute, Arm is delivering advanced solutions that allow the world’s leading technology companies to unleash the unprecedented experiences and capabilities of AI. Together with the world’s largest computing ecosystem and 20 million software developers, we are building the future of AI on Arm.

Sponsoring the Apprentice of the Year award

Sponsoring the most popular graduate recruiter in technology award

Blackbridge Communications is a specialist people communications agency that helps clients attract and engage talent.

We work with a wide range of leading organisations such as BT, HSBC, Rolls-Royce, Capital One, Aviva, Heathrow and Clifford Chance. Our expertise lies in creative concept development, digital channels, early talent attraction, employer brand research, internal communications and social media.

As a member of the OneAgent global network, the world’s largest network of employer branding agencies, we can also help our clients implement their people strategies internationally.

To find out more, visit: www.blackbridge.co.uk

Sponsoring the most popular graduate recruiter in consulting award

CBRE is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, with 130,000 professionals operating in more than 100 countries. We work in every dimension of commercial real estate, serving a diverse range of clients with an integrated suite of services, including facilities, transaction and project management; property management; investment management; appraisal and valuation; property leasing; strategic consulting; property sales; mortgage services and development services.

This is the place where high-performing people who want to do impactful work can create their own path to success. Careers at CBRE combine the support and resources of a global powerhouse in a culture where an entrepreneurial mindset is encouraged. We’re an organization of dynamic professionals that welcome challenge and provide a unique culture of autonomy and support—giving our people the platform to achieve multidimensional growth while doing impactful work. 

For more information on CBRE’s Next Generation programme, please visit: cbre.co.uk/next-gen-advisory

Sponsoring the best diversity and inclusion strategy

At Cappfinity, we believe in creating opportunities for all. We measure and develop potential across Talent Acquisition and Development. Partnering with over 250 organisations worldwide, we support individuals at every career stage, from school leavers to executives.

Our skills-led Talent Acquisition solutions optimise the entire candidate journey—from pre-skilling to seamless onboarding. Leveraging innovative technology and data-driven insights, we deliver fair, immersive, and brand-aligned assessments with feedback that help businesses identify and hire high-potential talent with confidence.

In Talent Development, we provide scalable, tech-driven platforms that identify individuals and organisational skills. With this insight we provide award-winning development experiences that engage early-career professionals and senior leaders alike, ensuring memorable learning and measurable results.

Research partner

Cibyl is a leading student market research team in UK andIreland. We provide employers, universities, professional bodies and researchers with unparalleled insights into students’ career thinking.Supporting attraction, equality, diversity, brand, virtual engagement, talent management and career service planning.

This year, 100,000 school students, undergraduates and recent graduates have taken part.

We’ve captured a broad range of opinion from them on the early careers market, including awareness and attractiveness of employers, relocation and mobility information, how and why students are making choices about careers, key demographic intel including: social profile, gender, year and subject of study, ethnicity, nationality and data on sexuality and disability.

Our team of MRS accredited researchers and analysts cut this data to get bespoke findings unique to individual employers. We consult with you on your competitive position, attractiveness amongst target group students, methods of engagement, help you to develop a school and campus strategy, help you to recruit a more diverse profile and get you to understand where and why you are missing out on relevant and ‘right fit’ talented young people.

Our methods can include quantitative, qualitative and focus group research, we offer year round data support, we have our own survey platform and can execute bespoke surveys or snap polls getting you the answer to a single issue of strategic importance or help you solve a problem. We area dept at reviewing a range of data sources as well as our own, offering you practical and actionable advice to help you build an informative picture and develop an early careers strategy that really works.

Cibyl's data is the source of the sector awards at the targetjobs National Graduate Recruitment Awards.

To get a demo of our data and to find out more go to cibyl.com

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Sponsoring the best university employability strategy award

Clifford Chance are one of the world's pre-eminent law firms, with significant depth and range of resources across five continents. As a single, fully integrated, global partnership, we pride ourselves on our approachable, collegial and team-based way of working.

We always strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, which include corporates from all the commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies and not-for-profit organisations. We provide them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the Firm's global standards with in-depth local expertise.

To find out more visit: www.cliffordchance.com

Sponsoring the most popular graduate recruiter in energy and utilities

Frazer-Nash is a leading systems, engineering, and technology company. We help organisations deliver innovative engineering and technology solutions to make lives safe, secure, sustainable, and affordable.

Our people apply their expertise to develop, enhance and protect our clients' critical assets, systems and processes.

We use our skills and talents to ensure a sustainable future for society and we focus on actions to reduce climate change, supporting rapid and far-reaching transformations in the delivery of energy, security, industry, and transport.

Our people are at the very heart of what we do, they are the reason our clients work with us to solve some of their greatest challenges. At Frazer-Nash, we want all of our people to feel they belong, confident in the knowledge that we value and respect the commitment they have made by entrusting their careers and expertise to us.

Sponsoring the HE careers and employability team of the year award

HSBC was established in 1865 to finance trade between Europe and Asia. The experiences of the past 150 years have helped form the bank’s character across the world. HSBC's international network comprises around 6,300 offices in 60 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. Headquartered in London & Hong Kong, HSBC is one of the largest banking and financial services organisations in the world.  

We’re here to use our unique expertise, capabilities, breadth and perspectives to open up new kinds of opportunity for our customers. We’re bringing together the people, ideas and capital that nurture progress and growth, helping to create a better world – for our customers, our people, our investors, our communities and the planet we all share.

At HSBC we’re interested in your skills, not what you studied. We welcome students from all backgrounds. With our support, you’ll build on the behavioural skills you have today to develop the technical skills required for the future. A career at HSBC could take you in directions you never imagined. We have the programmes to suit your career ambitions; whether you’re developing the skills to become an Investment Banker, Relationship Manager, Cyber Security Specialist, or Data Analyst, you’ll get the training, connections and support you need to succeed.

You’ll join a global community of 200,000 colleagues serving a changing world – playing your part in driving responsible economic growth and supporting net zero transitions. You’ll grow and develop in an inclusive environment, which comes naturally to one of the world’s most international organisations, developing the skills you need to thrive both now and in the future.

Be Part of Something Bigger: hsbc.com/careers/students-and-graduates

Sponsoring the most popular 'scale-up' graduate recruiter

The Mignone Center for Career Success (MCS) empowers our learners to identify, explore, and achieve their career and professional goals, wherever they may lead.

More information can be found here.

Sponsoring the best student marketing campaign award

Here at L'Oréal, we are a global leader driven by a passion for innovation and inclusivity. With a diverse family of 37 international brands, we offer everything from skincare and makeup to haircare and fragrances. We believe in the power of beauty to empower individuals and enable self-expression for everyone. That’s why we’re proud to sponsor the 'Best Student Marketing Campaign' award – nurturing the next generation of creative talent is a mission we’re passionate about.

Discover the world of L'Oréal at: careers.loreal.com/en_US/content/UK

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Sponsoring the most popular graduate recruiter in retail

Meet & Engage is dedicated to helping employers deliver meaningful connections throughout the hiring journey.

Our award-winning automated onboarding platform delivers tailored onboarding experiences, ensuring every new hire feels valued and prepared, regardless of role or level.

Modular solutions for EarlyCareers Leaders enable you to engage, nurture, and onboard candidates efficiently, without compromising on experience.

With expertise in all areas of talent acquisition – from candidate experience to employer brand to Emerging Talent –we combine technology and insight to help businesses solve real-life hiring and engagement challenges.

Positive candidate experience produces many key benefits, and in turn solves so many common challenges. We support in-house recruiters with:

• Demystifying the organisation and opportunities to convert talent 
• Attracting and converting diverse talent 
• Improving efficiency without sacrificing experience at high volume
• Reducing unwanted candidate drop-outs in multi-stage hiring journeys
• Reducing reneges post offer
• Accelerating work readiness
• Improving Hiring Manager engagement
• Reducing early attrition 

Sponsoring the most popular graduate recruiter in banking, insurance and financial services award

NFU Mutual offers a wide range of products, including general insurance, pensions and investments. These products and services are delivered through the agency network, as well as through a direct sales and service centre.

With over 300 offices located in rural towns and villages throughout the UK, NFU Mutual has become part of the fabric of rural life and remains committed to serving the needs of people who visit, live or work in the countryside.

We welcome graduates into our organisation every year across all areas of the business, from customer services, marketing and HR, through to potentially becoming one of our sales agents of the future.

We are really proud to sponsor the award for the most popular graduate recruiter in banking, insurance and financial services 2025.

Sponsoring the most popular graduate recruiter in accounting and financial management award

Pathway CTM is the UK's leading Early Careers support specialist in generating outcomes for diverse talent. We are a socially driven company that gives school-leavers a x10 better chance of receiving an apprenticeship offer!

Our Programme is free for students and schools, backed by over 50 multi-national employer partners. We have a network of over 75,000 students, aged 13-21, from our deep partnerships with 1,300 schools and 3,000 teachers – not to mention the 20,000 parents in our engaged community, who are all helping their children make better, informed decisions.

Our services cover; Early Engagement, Attraction and Conversions. This can be through multi-branded events , bespoke events, or most importantly through our well-regarded usp: which provides free 1-2-1 coaching & mentoring for students who apply to your brand! Last year we made 31,000 proactive phone calls to students on behalf of our clients. This is how we can really change the dial on conversions for diverse students and opportunities for all.

Pathway CTM have just merged with The Learning People (who retrain 20-35 year olds), so we are now starting to offer total talent solutions, including career changers, especially within Technology.

To find out more please visit: www.pathwayctm.com

Sponsoring the rising star award

Rolls-Royce is one of the world’s leading industrial technology companies, pioneering cutting-edge technologies that deliver clean, safe and competitive solutions to our planet’s vital power needs.

We have always championed innovation and quality and we owe this to the spirit, passion and expertise of our people. Throughout our history, they have helped us to break new ground, establish new standards and shape the world we live in. This has taken us from our founding expertise in internal combustion engines to the world’s most powerful and efficient aero-engines.

Today, our core businesses are Civil Aerospace, Defence and Power Systems.

Great businesses need great talent and we are committed to attracting and developing people from diverse backgrounds and providing an environment where they can be themselves and be their best. Our early careers programmes provide the opportunity to contribute, develop and excel. We value the insights and fresh perspectives of young talent and recognise them as future leaders.

To find out more, visit: careers.rolls-royce.com

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Sponsoring the graduate employer of the year

SHL is a global leader in talent assessment and workforce solutions, helping organisations hire, develop, and retain top talent. With over 40 years of scientific research and innovation, our industry-leading solutions enable employers to make objective, data-driven hiring decisions.

We provide cutting-edge assessments that measure candidates’ skills and reskilling potential, helping businesses identify top Early Careers talent efficiently and fairly. Our AI-powered technology ensures a seamless, engaging, and unbiased hiring experience, empowering companies to build diverse, high-performing teams. SHL is committed to fostering inclusive hiring practices that create equal opportunities for all candidates.

With millions of data points on Early Careers talent, SHL helps our partners benchmark their talent pools and hires using objective data models, ensuring they attract and retain the best candidates.

As a proud sponsor of the targetjobs National Graduate Recruitment Awards, SHL plays a key role in shaping the future of graduate hiring.

Sponsoring the most popular graduate recruiter in engineering, design and manufacture

At Skyscanner, we're proud to do things differently. Travel is about trying new things and having fun. Working at Skyscanner is just the same. We're made up of 1,000 talented, passionate individuals around the world who want to make planning and booking travel better for everyone.

We've got amazing opportunities for people starting out in their professional lives and our winner will join us as a summer intern. We'll give you an awesome experience where you will be a valuable and contributing member to your tribe and squad. You will also benefit from on-the-job, online and classroom-based learning.

We pride ourselves on our open, honest and collaborative culture, including weekly Town Halls with our CxOs and in-person 'Ask me anything' sessions. Each and every employee is encouraged to collaborate, share knowledge and develop themselves and there is plenty of cross-location working. You could start your day on a call with colleagues in Singapore and end the day collaborating on a project with our Miami office. We may have over 1,000 colleagues all over the world, but Skyscanner still feels like a small, close-knit business.

More about Skyscanner

From flights to hotels and car hire, we work side-by-side with our industry partners to bring people all the options they need to plan and book their perfect trips.

When we started out in 2003, we wanted to create a simple alternative to the confusing sites that make travel feel like hard work. Fast forward to today and Skyscanner has gone from a simple spreadsheet for finding the best flight prices, to global leader in travel with millions of people across the world relying on us each month.

Now part of Ctrip, we're operationally independent and growing, with offices across Europe, North America and Asia. And we're not stopping there. It's our vision to “help every traveller explore our world effortlessly, for generations to come”.

Find out more about Skyscanner here.

Sponsoring the most popular graduate recruiter in investment banking and investment award

Spotted Zebra is an award-winning workforce management platform, trusted by large enterprise organisations worldwide to make high-stakes decisions on hiring, development, succession planning, and reskilling.

Founded over four years ago by leading occupational psychologist Nick Shaw, and serial tech entrepreneur Ian Monk, Spotted Zebra secured £7.7 million in Series A funding in 2023.

Spotted Zebra is galloping ahead on its mission to unite 10 million people with opportunities at the world’s leading employers, based on skills, by 2030.

Learn more here: www.spottedzebra.co.uk‍

Sponsoring the award for sustainability in early talent recruitment

The Sustainable Recruitment Alliance is transforming the environmental impact of the early talent sector. As recent winners of the Global Good Awards, we’ve proven that collective action can revolutionise the impact of recruitment practices.

Now is the time to be part of a groundbreaking network to reduce carbon footprint and create meaningful, environmentally conscious practices. Don't wait – join us today and be a catalyst for change in the early talent ecosystem.

To learn more and sign the pledge, visit: sralliance.co.uk

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Sponsoring the best candidate, onboarding or post hire experience

TopScore is a digital assessment centre platform that powers simple, streamlined and sustainable assessment centres.

Built by recruitment assessment experts, TopScore’s automated features reduce admin and cost while enhancing candidate experience, data security, user accessibility and overall assessment fairness.

The TopScore platform enables both virtual and paperless in-person assessment centres and interviews for employers tasked with early careers and volume recruitment.

Examples of the TopScore platform’s functionality include:

·      Digital scoring, notetaking and feedback reporting

·      Customisable assessment content

·      Integrated videoconferencing

·      Automated scheduling

·      Personalisation & branding

·      Web accessibility

·      Candidate restricted access

·      Multi-factor Authentication and Single Sign-On (SSO)

·      Different user types

www.topscoretech.com

Sponsoring the most popular graduate recruiter in the public sector and the best placement or internship programme

TheUniversity of East London is the careers-first university, preparing students for the careers of the future. We take a unique approach to higher education that places collaboration with industry and end-to-end careers support at the heart of our degrees, delivered to each of our students throughthe UEL Careers Guarantee.

Our unique curriculum embeds the Mental Wealth and Professional Fitness programme into every course, designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge to remain adaptable in an evolving world. Our facilities are industry-standard and our practice-based learning centres provide students with real experience within their sector while they study – from our award-winning Legal AdviceCentre for law students to our new arts centre for creative industries students, The Source.

Our vision is a fairer, healthier more sustainable world and our mission is to train diverse, creative and passionate graduates to build it.

Sponsoring the most popular graduate recruiter in engineering, design and manufacture

As a leading international and Top 10 university, the employability of our students is a major strategic priority for everyone at Exeter. The huge investment and commitment in embedding career and employability support internal and external to the curriculum continues to impact on the success of our graduates across all sectors of the graduate labour market and related league tables.

These achievements are formally recognised through multiple accolades and national awards including Exeter becoming the first and only University to receive the AGR’s (now ISE) ‘Best of the Best’ Blue Ribbon award.

In the seminal and critically acclaimed paper on the future of higher education “An Avalanche is coming” the authors referred to Exeter’s employability services as “A great example of the future”. Our aim is to build upon this reputation and become the University of choice for employers and career-minded students alike.

If you would like to work with us on developing and recruiting world-class student and graduate talent visit our website to find out more: www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/employers

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