Leading employers were recognised for their efforts in supporting graduate recruitment, as part of the 2012 Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR).
Charity Teach First, which provides fast-track, in-school teacher training for high-achieving graduates, won praise for its selection and assessment process.
The four week process was commended for its efficiency and the depth of insight it gave graduates about their roles as trainee teachers.
The following companies and organisations also won awards:
• Marketing award and the best employer brand award: Gained by professional services company Ernst & Young for selecting candidates for graduate jobs on their strengths and the accessibility of their brand.
• Literature award: Won by law firm Allen & Overy who judges’ argued connected with Generation Y.
• Digital marketing strategy award: Won by leading high street bank Barclays. The firm was commended for the integration of its website with social media platforms.
• Graduate development award: Won by the University of Exeter for its support helping graduates find student jobs. It also gained the Blue Ribbon award for the best overall entry.
Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the AGR, said:
“What is noticeable among the top entries is their attention to detail in terms of portraying what life at the organisation is really like. We're seeing that there are fewer applications for each vacancy, and that graduates are making higher quality applications for each scheme they do go for – so it's very important that organisations are able to communicate their working environment, what makes them special and what they are offering graduates.”
Earlier this year The Times Graduate Recruitment Awards 2012 placed professional services firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as 'graduate employer of the year' for the ninth year in the row.
Other winners included Aldi (general management), Allen & Overy (law), Barclays (finance), GlaxoSmithKline (research & development), John Lewis Partnership (sales & retailing), the NHS (human resources), Oxfam (charity & voluntary work), Rolls-Royce (engineering) and Savills (property).