Organisations throughout the UK are now invited to enter their quality work placement schemes into the National Council for Work Experience (NCWE) 2008/9 awards, online.

The NCWE hosts the only awards to recognise employers providing undergraduate work experience and for the first time the entry process can be completed entirely online, making it quick and simple.     

Employers, students and careers advisers can nominate organisations that they feel epitomise best practice in work experience. Spanning eleven categories, the Awards are open to organisations of all sizes and industries, including charitable and public sectors. This year there is an additional category – best work experience provider for International Students Studying in the UK.

One of the NCWE 2007/8 award winners Matthew Whitbourne, European programme manager, IBM Extreme Blue, says:

“The award has been extremely valuable in attracting our new intake of work placement students.  It was also rewarding to be publicly recognised as leading the field in our provision of work placements and has encouraged us to build on this success by regularly updating the programme to enhance the student experience.”

Heather Collier, NCWE director comments:

 “We have recently refined the nomination process to make it much simpler and quicker for people to enter. Removing the requirement to provide supporting literature now allows the whole process to be completed online. Every year our awards grow and we hope this year’s will be our biggest and best yet.”

The NCWE Awards showcase the very best of what employers have to offer. They recognise, encourage and reward employers who take the lead in the provision of valuable work placement opportunities for students, and set high standards for others to follow by offering fulfilling work placements that help students develop their employability skills.

Closing date

The closing date for entries is 12 December 2008. Entries will be assessed solely by online application and a maximum of six companies will be short-listed in each category. Winners will be announced at the Awards ceremony that will take place in London on 5th March 2009.

For further information and to enter visit www.work-experience.org/awards .

The NCWE Awards operate across eleven categories:

• Over 250 Employees, employing less than 20 students – long term placements (4-12 months)
• Over 250 Employees, employing 20 students or more – long term placements (4-12 months)
• Over 250 Employees – short term placements (0 - 3 months)
• 10 to 250 Employees
• Under 10 Employees
• Charitable Sector
• Public Sector
• For International Students studying in UK
• New Placement Schemes (within last 2 years)
• Best work experience provider - nominated by a Student
• Best work experience provider - nominated by a Careers Adviser or Placement Tutor 

The NCWE Awards have been running for six years. This year sponsors include Changeboard, AGR, GlaxoSmithKline, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Centrica.