2020 sponsors

We wouldn't be able to put on much of a show without our sponsors. They all have a real passion for exceptional graduate recruitment. Read their stories here.

Premium partner

SHL

Delivering talent innovations and proven results for over 40 years

We help companies transform productivity through deeper people insight. Powering the future of business, our data and tools are proven to drive stronger, more sustainable business outcomes.

We are people experts

We understand, and measure, the things that make people successful at work. Most importantly, we show you if individuals will be a good fit for a particular role and whether they’ll flourish in your organisation.

With this sort of insight – derived from our complex people science, data analytics and deep expertise – you’ll be empowered to make confident, timely decisions about hiring, managing and developing people.

Unlocking productivity

It starts with your people. Leaders face tremendous pressure to achieve organisational goals and make their businesses more efficient. Having the right people is key to improving productivity for today, and the future.

How do you know if you have the right people? What skills and capabilities are needed to succeed in your firm? Are you giving the right people career growth? We can provide you with the resources to identify and develop your employees' potential.

Founding sponsor

Teach First

Teach First is a charity working to end educational inequality. We believe inspirational teaching and leadership is key to helping every child succeed, regardless of their background. Since 2002 over 7,000 graduates have joined the Teach First Leadership Development Programme (LDP) in schools across England and Wales and have helped change the lives of thousands of young people in low-income communities.

The LDP is a personalised programme that encompasses high-quality training, supportive coaching, work experience and a PGCE qualification. The skills and experience gained can be taken forward into any career. That’s why many businesses recognise our programme’s ability to effect change and develop leaders for the future. Put simply, they know that graduates who can engage, stimulate and inspire in the classroom can handle pretty much any situation in any organisation.

As founding sponsors, we are delighted to have the opportunity to share our theory of change and celebrate best practice with our colleagues in the graduate recruitment industry.

Blackbridge

Sponsoring the most popular graduate recruiter in logistics, transport and supply chain 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 Rolls-Royce, Capital One, Aviva, Heathrow and Clifford Chance. Our expertise lies in creative concept development, digital channels, early talent attraction, employer brand research and internal communications.

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

Clyde & Co

Sponsoring the apprentice of the year award

Clyde & Co is a leading, sector-focused, global law firm with 415 partners, 2,200 legal professionals and 3,800 staff in total in nearly 50 offices and associated offices on six continents. Its core global sectors position it at the heart of global trade and commerce: insurance, trade & commodities, energy, transport and infrastructure. With a strong emerging markets focus, the firm has achieved compound average annual revenue growth of 12% over the last five years, making it one of the fastest growing law firms in the world with ambitious plans for further growth.

Guided by its senior partner, chief executive and the management board, the firm has transformed from a mid-tier City firm to a top-tier global powerhouse. Clyde & Co was named Transatlantic Law Firm of the Year 2017 by The American Lawyer/Legal Week.

Hodes

Sponsoring the graduate employer of the year award

Thoughtful, useful creativity. Global, credible expertise.

At Hodes (part of Symphony Talent), we know what we’re about when it comes to recruitment marketing, employer branding, content creation, social media and websites. Our experience in the school leaver, graduate and experienced talent markets helps us partner clients across sectors, across countries and across the FTSE 100.

In the early careers sector, we use our expertise and creative insight to make campaigns, branding and experiences that capture the essence of each client’s offering. From the legal sector to the cosmetics industry, from aeronautics to consumer goods, we help big and small companies attract the best in graduate talent. That’s why we’re the award-winning creative agency for employers.

To get to know us and find out what we can do for you, visit hodes.com.

HSBC

Sponsoring the best student marketing campaign (for organisations recruiting fewer than 50 hires a year) award

HSBC is the world's leading international bank.

Headquartered in London, HSBC is one of the largest banking and financial services organisations in the world. HSBC's international network comprises around 6,300 offices in 75 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa.

The HSBC Group's values describe how the Group interacts with each other internally, with customers and with the wider community. All employees are expected to have and reflect the Group's values.

The following three statements summarise the Group's values. HSBC's culture is among its signature strengths: It has been and is key to the Group's past and continued success.

Open to different ideas and cultures
Connected with our customers, community and each other
Dependable and doing the right thing

The HSBC Group is committed to the following business principles:

Outstanding customer services
Effective and efficient operations
Strong capital and liquidity
Prudent lending policy
Strict expense discipline

In the UK, HSBC provides over 300 graduate jobs each year in commercial, global banking and markets, group private banking and retail banking and wealth management. We also offer over 190 internship placements to undergraduates. HSBC is committed to developing people so they can perform to their potential.

Inmarsat

Sponsoring the engineering, design and manufacture award

As the industry leader and pioneer of mobile satellite communications, Inmarsat has been powering global connectivity for nearly four decades. Our constellation of 13 satellites supports global connectivity for maritime, aviation, governments and a wide range of businesses (from banking to mining) who need to communicate where terrestrial telecoms networks are unreliable or simply cannot reach.

We are passionate about developing talent and recognise the importance of promoting science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education to young people. We run specific programmes to support careers in satellite communications.

L'Oréal

Sponsoring the best student marketing campaign (for organisations recruiting more than 50 hires a year) award

With 32 world-famous brands selling in 130 countries, it’s easy to see why L’Oréal is the world’s number one cosmetics group. Even our brands are household names in their own right. From Ralph Lauren to Diesel; Maybelline to The Body Shop, if there’s a name you love in cosmetics, there’s a good chance it’s ours. That’s because we have the best talent in the business, constantly working to invent and revolutionise the industry.

We believe every day is a new day to explore, start new adventures and lead the change, and that’s reflected in the talent we recruit for our management trainee schemes, industrial placements, summer internships and spring insights. You’ll be inventive and passionate; driven and talented. And we’ll help you do great things with that talent, challenging you to push yourself and hone your skills. Wherever you are and whatever you do, you’ll work on real projects for global brands and make a palpable impact on our international success story.

University of Leicester

Sponsoring the best social mobility strategy award

At the heart of the UK, Leicester is a leading university committed to international excellence, world-changing research and high-quality, inspirational teaching. We are re-defining the impact a university can have in the 21st century and are proud to be one of the most socially inclusive of the UK’s leading universities.

We consistently attract high numbers of students from under-represented groups, but our commitment to an inclusive and accessible culture goes much further than providing a first-class education. We work with employers and graduate developers to help the brightest talent – regardless of their background – understand, work towards and access, the most sought-after graduate roles.

We firmly believe that the greatest impact on social mobility comes through employment. By sponsoring this award we want to celebrate employers that not only share in this vision but, like the University of Leicester, are leading the way to make this happen.

For more information visit www.le.ac.uk/employers.

Lidl

Sponsoring the rising star award

Lidl UK is delighted to be part of the 2019 TARGETjobs National Graduate Recruitment Awards and, in particular, to be associated with the rising star award.

For more than 20 years now, we’ve been working hard to change the British retail landscape, proving beyond a doubt that shoppers can have the very best quality at an incredible price. Today, our brand is endemic up and down the nation. And it’s all down to our people.

We’ve taken a proactive approach to championing, promoting and supporting talent wherever we find it – meaning you’ll find rising stars at every level in our organisation. With all of our current UK board having joined Lidl as graduates, we really do recognise, reward and encourage the value and potential of our graduates.

We are passionate about developing grassroots talent through every stage of their careers, from educational achievement through to professional ambition. It’s what has shaped our diverse and committed workforce, and what will ensure we continue to be an agile, quality-driven business.

Lloyd's

Sponsoring the best use of social media award

Lloyd’s is the world’s only specialist insurance and reinsurance market that offers a unique concentration of expertise and talent, backed by strong financial ratings and international licences. It is often the first to insure new, unusual or complex risks, providing innovative insurance solutions for local, cross-border and global risks.

Its strength lies in the diversity and expertise of the brokers and managing agents working at Lloyd’s, supported by capital from across the world. More than 90 syndicates are underwriting insurance and reinsurance at Lloyd’s, covering all lines of business from more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. Lloyd’s is regulated by the Prudential Regulatory Authority and Financial Conduct Authority.

NFU Mutual

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 2020.

TJX Europe

Sponsoring the most popular graduate recruiter in consumer goods – manufacturing and marketing award

You might not have heard of TJX Europe, but you’ve probably heard of our brands – TK Maxx and Homesense. We’re part of the world’s leading off-price apparel and home fashions retailer – TJX Companies Inc.

Our story began in the United States in 1977 with the opening of two TK Maxx stores in Massachusetts. Now, 40 years later, we have over 4,000 stores in nine countries across three continents (plus three e-commerce sites) – all staffed by more than 249,000 associates. Combined with our unconventional off-price business model, we are a truly global retail force.

We have an annual global turnover of over $35bn and our business just keeps on growing.

While our story begins in the United States, TJX Europe now has over 600 stores across Europe as well as a successful online retail business. We’re growing at a fantastic pace globally, which makes TJX Europe the perfect place to launch your career.

We’re an international business, so there are openings for your career in a range of different countries across Europe, and maybe even further afield. With our support, you’ll be perfectly placed to launch a truly international career.