At a strategic level, we recognise our dependency on the UK chemistry talent base and our responsibility to contribute to its development. In this respect, our industrial placement scheme is one mechanism by which we seek to work in partnership with academia to enrich the experience of undergraduate graduate chemists.

Steps to implementation:
While this placement programme has been in operation for over 30 years, we took the innovative step in 2003 of having our work experience programme reviewed for a ‘Quality Mark’ from NCWE. This assures both the students and academics that the work experience programme at GSK is of the highest quality and supports the students in reaching their career goals.

• Key business representatives have been appointed to liaise with academics in university chemistry departments to ensure that our placement programme continues to meet university requirements.
• Recruitment process is exclusively conducted on-campus to avoid disruption of student studies.
• We host a ‘familiarisation day’ on the GSK site to allow students to meet their supervisors and outgoing placement students, and to see their place of work.  Furthermore, this day allows them to develop a strong support network with their peers.
• Students receive identical support to our permanent employees. In addition, the relevant operations manager has regular informal and formal interactions with the students to ensure the student is aware and has access to additional support mechanisms where needed (buddy, mentor, Employee Assistance Programme etc).