Winner in the Over 250 Employees Category

BP plc

BP is a global energy group employing over 100,000 people and operating in over 100 countries worldwide. The company offers summer and year long placements to students, with 50% of placement students entering the graduate scheme.

BP recognises the benefits of work placements, with students bringing in new ideas and innovative ways of thinking to the company. Interns feed into their graduate programme so placements also allow BP to target high quality candidates for their graduate scheme earlier than the competition. The placement scheme also attracts applicants who may not normally have applied for the graduate programme, offering the organisation a more diverse applicant pool.

Placement students are given a thorough induction, introducing them not only to the company and their role but also to other employees and placement students. Continuous assessment takes place throughout the placement, with students encouraged to be actively involved in the process through self-assessment and by scheduling and setting the agenda for weekly meetings with their line manager.

Presentation skills training is offered to placement students, along with role specific training required in order to complete their tasks. The mid-term appraisal, conducted halfway through a students placement is also used to identify any skills gaps or further training which may be required. Support is offered throughout the placement through a mentoring system and meetings with the line manager to gain feedback.

Key Success Factors

• BP currently offers 50% of its placement students a graduate position and intends to increase this to 70%
• A well managed and standardised programme ensures all students receive the same experience and opportunities.
• Students are given real responsibility, with their work directly contributing to the company’s performance.

"“The placement has put my course into perspective and has provided me with important skills and abilities which I can use both at University and in future life”. - Placement student at BP"