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RESPECT 'Meet the Companies' day 2011

On Wednesday 23rd November the School of Civil Engineering welcomed a dozen of civil engineering's key companies, all of whom are looking for young talent to nurture, ready for graduate employment. The School runs an annual series of events, aimed at helping these companies secure first and second year undergraduates for sponsorship through their degrees. The Respect scheme starts with Meet the Companies – which does what it says on the tin – and students from all levels of study come along to talk to the recruiting companies. Thereafter, students will apply and be selected for interview in February, ready to secure their summer placements with their new host organisations.

University of Birmingham Aston Webb building

2011-12’s recruitment for the School of Civil Engineering’s RESPECT sponsorship/placement scheme started with a lot of noise and bustle in the Shell Lounge on 23rd November. The majority of the School’s first and second year undergraduates came to meet a dozen big-name civil engineering companies, find out about the opportunities open to them for summer work placements and subsequent sponsorship through their studies.

Regular recruiters, Laing O’Rourke, Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering, Interserve Construction, Geoffrey Osborne Ltd, Mouchel, Bam Nuttall, Northmidland Construction and Grontmij were joined by Arup, Colas Rail, Keller Ground Engineering and Balfour Beatty Utilities Services. All are looking for talented young engineers to continue the success of their businesses – of which Birmingham has plenty.

The next stage for the students is to complete an application form, brush off their CVs and send them in to the School’s Industrial Liaison Manager, Jenny Illingsworth. From there, the companies will decide which of their applicants to see on Interview Day in February 2012.

To take part in RESPECT and receive applications, it doesn’t matter if your company wasn’t there for Meet the Companies; you can still recruit students. Please contact Jenny Illingsworth on j.s.illingsworth@bham.ac.uk if you’d like to find out more and recruit enthusiastic, able students.