The TARGETjobs National Student Challenge, in partnership with Siemens and organised by TARGETjobs Events, took place at the incredible Crystal Building in London on Monday 6 October. The winner was Holly Anderson, who is studying Economics at Durham University. The runners up were Sophie Reid (Bio Chemistry, Imperial College London) and Eve Edwards (Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge). Holly wins £1,000 and a paid internship with Siemens. For the second year running, the winner and runners up were all female.
A record breaking 6293 students entered the challenge from 166 different universities. They came from every degree subject and they all took a lengthy online intelligence test designed by testing experts Cut-e and the 50 with the highest scores were invited to the final stage. They took part in a variety of practical tests which included individual and group exercises devised by Cut-e and the partner organisations to test their decision making, creativity and business awareness. The exercises were based on the challenges they will face at assessment centres in their final year and everyone, not just the winners, gained valuable practice.
The TARGETjobs National Student Challenge is open to all with no targeting or pre-selection based on university or UCAS points. The winner was the student who could best show that they had the personal skills to match their intelligence. In these days of targeting, the National Student Challenge is most definitely a level playing field and it shows that talent exists in universities outside the Russell Group.
The TARGETjobs National Student Challenge was organised in partnership with Siemens (Headline partner) and Bank of Ireland, Capital One, Cognizant and Norton Rose Fulbright. The presence and support of top employers shows how important it is for UK businesses to identify the talented leaders of the future.
Claire Wright, Marketing Communications Manager, Graduates, Skills & Education, at Siemens said:
'This is our third year partnering with the National Student Challenge and, as always, it represents a great opportunity to engage with university students from across the UK, whilst allowing them to develop their employability skills. Those who made the final got an invaluable opportunity to meet and network with employers and experience what graduate assessment centres are like. Siemens is delighted to be able to offer Holly an internship, as we feel this is the most valuable prize of all: gaining industry experience prior to applying for graduate positions.'
The winner, Holly Anderson, said: “"I had so much fun on the day that it didn't really feel like a competition. It was a great opportunity to meet like-minded people and work together to bring the best out in each other. Everyone there was extremely talented so I couldn't believe it when my name was read out as the winner. It still hasn't really sunk in but I can't wait to start work with Siemens. I originally applied just to get some more experience for assessment centres but it ended up being so much more than that and I would encourage all other students, from any degree or university to have a go next year.”
Holly, Sophie and Eve are seen here with their winner’s prizes along with Kirsty Drummond from TARGETjobs Events (far left) and Claire Williams, Marketing Communications Manager, Graduates Skills and Education, for Siemens (far right)
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