UP FRONT • UP FRONT • UP FRONT • UP FRONT • UP FRONT
Norbert Dentressangle Logistics UK Sector: EEI
We speak to Learning & Development Manager, Chris Dolby about Norbert Dentressangle’s graduate offering: “Norbert Dentressangle started his company in 1979 transporting French golden delicious apples to London, and since then the company has grown to become one of Europe’s leading supply chain companies, focusing on the three disciplines of Transport, Logistics, and Freight Forwarding.
“With a 2012 annual turnover of €3.9 billion, the company employs 32,500 people in 26 countries across Europe, America and Asia, and places sustainable development at the heart of all its activities.
N
Poll: Will you #JoinThe5PercentClub?
In mid-October, a group of six major engineering/defence firms (QinetiQ, Babcock International, EADS, Atkins, MBDA and Renishaw) announced the launch of the ‘5% Club’ − an industry-led scheme which aims to bridge the skills gap and address youth unemployment.
On-Campus Hashtags: #AccentureExperience
It’s that time of year again, when graduate recruiters are out in force, and on-campus hashtags become a staple on our Twitter feed,
One particularly prolific hashtag has been Accenture’s (@accentureukjobs) #accentureexperience campaign. Jessica Grundy, Graduate Recruitment lead at Accenture explains the thinking behind their Twitter efforts: “We wanted to design a stand out event that would create a buzz and allow students to learn more about what Accenture does. Our Oxygen Experience was an integrated campaign and social media was a key part of this. The hashtag #AccentureExperience allowed us to take our offline experience online and generate greater awareness organically through word of mouth and create a two-way conversation, by enabling students to share photos and tweets both during and after the events.”
The Club, which is open to firms from all industries, both public and private, asks that members “work toward having a minimum 5% of [their] UK workforce enrolled on formalised apprentice, sponsored student and/or graduate development schemes within five years”, a declaration which they must also make in public in a document such as their annual report. In a LinkedIn poll, we asked AGR members if they planned to get involved with the Club. While the majority said ‘Yes’, one respondent expressed uncertainty. Elsewhere, it was noted the 5% pledge is similar in its aims to David Cameron’s Institution of Mechanical Engineers scheme, which aims add 100,000 engineering technicians to the UK’s skills-short technical industries within the next five years.
What are your views on the initiative - do you think it will prove successful? Let us know @agrtweets
LinkedIn discussion: Are graduates prepared for employment?
This month, members of our LinkedIn Group have been discussing graduates’ readiness for the world of work. A recent survey carried out by the Times and the Sunday Times Good University guide found that 52% of employers considering graduates to be unprepared for the world of work.
The research raises an important question regarding the onus for developing employability − does this lie with universities, students, or employers? Or, as participants on the LinkedIn group suggest, does this problem simply require a change in how students are assessed:
“…changing the approach to assessment before hiring will provide a more suitable match − it’s not necessarily that these graduates are unprepared for work, more so that they are not as suited to the role, therefore not performing to the employers expectations.”
What are your thoughts on this issue? Follow us @AGRTweets
“The Norbert Dentressangle Fast Track Talent Programme initially started in the 1990s as the Christian Salvesen Graduate Recruitment & Development Scheme. Over the years the programme has recruited 180 management trainees and a significant number of those trainees are now employed in senior positions within the company.”
Graduate intake: “We recruit approximately 20 graduates a year across two intakes – January and July. The programme is designed to recruit and attract talented individuals with high potential and provide them with the necessary development to enable them to fulfil their potential and grow into exceptional operational managers and leaders.
“It consists of four six-month placements in different areas of the company such as warehousing, transport, business planning, business development and support services. These will include working on contracts for companies such as Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Vauxhall and British Airways.
“Management Trainees will undertake various training and development programmes to improve their leadership, logistics and project management skills.”
Biggest challenge in recruiting graduates: “To identify people who have the right character, personality and fit for our business. Essentially we focus on assessing interpersonal skills and leadership capability to identify people who can lead, engage and motivate our colleagues.”
Other new members: Elekta, Electronic Arts, Give A Grad A Go, The Good Careers Guide, WorkHero
8 Graduate Recruiter |
www.agr.org.uk
T
New member spotlight:
W
H
N
A
D
’
S
E
B
E
F
E
N
T
T
T
R
I
E
N
D
R
I
N
Trending Topics
G
O
O
U
T
W
E
R
E
A
D
L
I
N
?
K
H
E
T
D
N
I
N
O
G
M
R
S
O
I
U
P
T
H
#
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36