Importing the China work ethic
A group of talented graduates flew in from Beijing this month, to take part in a flagship work experience scheme. This joint UK-China Government initiative gives top Chinese graduates the opportunity to learn about UK culture and working life.
The scheme, which was announced by Prime Minister Gordon Brown during a visit to China in 2004, was set up to strengthen education and business links between China and the UK. Over 160 graduates have since taken up internships around the UK.
Thirty-one of the newest interns were welcomed at a reception organised by GTI Recruiting Solutions, at the Barbican in London. The graduates were fresh from spending two weeks at Regents College on a special induction to working life in the UK.
Employers and current interns were on hand to offer advice at the reception event. Philip Morgan from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills congratulated the graduates and advised them to, “work hard and make the most of their internship, making sure they visited as much of the country as possible during their stay.”
The candidates went through an intense selection process to be awarded a place on the programme, and are out to impress. For most, it is their first opportunity to experience life outside China and to gain work experience. They are very enthusiastic about their placements and the experiences they will have in the UK.
Intern Nan Zhang, explained why the programme means so much to her: “One of my friends once told me that ‘Life is a journey. Enjoy the ride’. For me, the reception event formally brought me into the field of work in the UK. This is a brand new journey for me to enjoy and an exciting adventure for me to attempt.’
A host of UK businesses are taking part, offering paid internships in a range of job functions, from marketing and HR, through to engineering, finance and project management. Employers are impressed with their interns, and their businesses are gaining much from the initiative. Paula Quinton-Jones, Graduate Resourcing & Development Manager for Europe at Standard Chartered Bank, who has taken on four interns, says “We’re delighted with the calibre of our interns – they are already making a fantastic contribution to our business”.
This is echoed by the recruitment team at Swiss Re who are set to expand in China, “We have launched an Asia Development Programme and a global graduate programme that includes China – so the UK-China Graduate Work Experience Programme is an ideal way to raise our profile among graduates in China.”
Employers offering the latest internships are Antonov, Associated Newspapers, British Sugar, Diageo, Euromoney, Halcrow, KL Communications, Lawson Dodd, Mazars, Norton Rose, Pinsent Mason, PwC, Rolls–Royce, Standard Chartered and Unilever.
The recruitment process is managed by GTI Recruiting Solutions, on behalf of the UK Government. As well as ensuring employers are matched with the graduates with the right skills and experience, GTI Recruiting Solutions takes care of all the administration required to bring the interns to the UK and provide pastoral care during their time here.
“New employers from all sectors are always welcome to the programme. If you need English-speaking talent with Chinese language skills, a strong education and a powerful will to succeed then let us know. We deal with all visa issues to make life easy for supporting employers and offer pastoral care for the interns outside the work place,” says GTI Recruiting Solutions Director Paul Clark, “Our aim here is to ensure the employers have the opportunity to offer work experience to graduate talent they are unlikely to reach. We have been hugely impressed by the hunger of these graduates and the determination to succeed.”