The Guardian UK 300 most popular graduate employers

...as voted for by students and graduates

The Guardian UK 300 2011/12

The Guardian UK 300 is compiled from one of the biggest ever surveys of students. In the survey, students are asked which career sectors interest them the most and which graduate employers within those sectors they most want to work for. The survey ranks the 300 most popular UK employers AND the most popular employers within the major graduate career sectors.

The in-depth data analysis in The Guardian UK 300 is based on the annual trendence Graduate Barometer survey of over 25,000 students across 100 universities conducted mainly via university careers services. It's the largest and most representative survey of its kind.

This year's top 300

For 2012/13, Google tops the rankings as the student’s choice. Last year’s winner, NHS Graduate Schemes, remains in the top 5 and Innocent Drinks has shot up the tables from 100 last year, to 10 this. Other fast climbers include Oxfam, Amnesty International and the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), all of which have entered the top 10.

Click on the image to download The Guardian UK 300 2012/13 digital edition.

Rankings for 2013/14 will be available from September.

Rank
2012/13
Employer Rank
2011/12
Diff Employer also appears in career sector rankings
1 Google 11 up IT and technology
Media and Advertising
2 BBC TV 2 same Media and Advertising
3 GlaxoSmithKline 4 up Consumer goods - manufacturing and marketing
Scientific research and development
4 NHS Graduate Schemes 1 down Public sector
5 Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) 13 up IT and technology
Public sector
6 Channel 4 7 up Media and Advertising
7 Amnesty International 16 up Charity and not-for-profit
8 Oxfam 24 up Charity and not-for-profit
9 Security Service (MI5) 21 up IT and technology
Public sector
10 Innocent Drinks 104 up Consumer goods - manufacturing and marketing
11 Teach First 3 down Public sector
12 Goldman Sachs 67 up Investment banking and investment
13 Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) 26 up Public sector
14 Rolls-Royce 53 up Engineering, design and manufacturing
15 Civil Service Fast Stream 31 up Public sector
16 PwC 6 down Accountancy and financial management
17 Microsoft 12 down IT and technology
18 Unilever 15 down Consumer goods - manufacturing and marketing
Scientific research and development
19 AstraZeneca 34 up Scientific research and development
20 John Lewis Partnership 70 up Retail
21 Airbus 50 up Engineering, design and manufacturing
22 J.P. Morgan 80 up Investment banking and investment
23 Deloitte 8 down Accountancy and financial management
IT and technology
24 BP 64 up Energy and utilities
25 Kraft Foods (incl. Cadbury) 155 up Consumer goods - manufacturing and marketing
Scientific research and development
26 Ernst & Young 10 down Accountancy and financial management
27 Procter & Gamble 107 up Consumer goods - manufacturing and marketing
Scientific research and development
28 Shell 100 up Energy and utilities
29 Accenture 32 up Consulting
IT and technology
Scientific research and development
30 Jaguar Land Rover 127 up Engineering, design and manufacturing
31 KPMG 22 down Accountancy and financial management
32 L'Oréal 9 down Consumer goods - manufacturing and marketing
33 Abercrombie & Fitch 132 up Retail
34 BAE Systems 74 up Engineering, design and manufacturing
35 HSBC Global Banking and Markets 134 up Investment banking and investment
36 Pfizer 23 down Scientific research and development
37 British Council 29 down Public sector
38 The Army 89 up Engineering, design and manufacturing
Public sector
39 IBM 5 down Consulting
IT and technology
40 The Royal Air Force 120 up

Engineering, design and manufacturing
Public sector

41 Arcadia Group 51 up Retail
42 Barclays Capital 161 up Investment banking and investment
43 Apple - - IT and technology
44 McKinsey & Company 98 up Consulting
45 Metropolitan Police Service 25 down Public sector
46 Arup 127 up Construction, civil engineering and surveying
47 British Airways 190 up IT and technology
Logistics, transport and supply chain
48 Hilton International 19 down Hospitality, leisure and tourism
49 Morgan Stanley 154 up Investment banking and investment
50 Coca-Cola Enterprises 113 up Consumer goods - manufacturing and marketing
51 Marks & Spencer 115 up Retail
52 HSBC Bank plc 18 down Banking, insurance and financial services
53 Allen & Overy LLP 60 up Law - solicitors
54 BMW - - Engineering, design and manufacturing
55 EDF Energy 97 up Energy and utilities
56 Johnson & Johnson 14 down Scientific research and development
57 Siemens 119 up Engineering, design and manufacturing
58 Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines - - Engineering, design and manufacturing
59 Virgin Atlantic Airlines - - Logistics, transport and supply chain
60 HM Revenue & Customs 35 down Accountancy and financial management
61 GCHQ 96 up IT and technology
Public sector
62 Deutsche Bank 208 up Investment banking and investment
63 Mars 242 up Consumer goods - manufacturing and marketing
Engineering, design and manufacturing
64 Atkins 123 up Construction, civil engineering and surveying
65 BCG (The Boston Consulting Group) 118 up Consulting
66 Estée Lauder Cosmetics 143 up Consumer goods - manufacturing and marketing
67 ExxonMobil 137 up Energy and utilities
68 The Royal Navy 178 up Engineering, design and manufacturing
Public sector
 
69 The Body Shop International 123 up Consumer goods - manufacturing and marketing
70 Bloomberg 59 down Banking, insurance and financial services
71 Lloyds Banking Group 46 down Banking, insurance and financial services
72 Slaughter and May 130 up Law - solicitors
73 DSTL (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory) 43 down Scientific research and development
74 Nestlé 189 up Consumer goods - manufacturing and marketing
75 Dyson 100 up Engineering, design and manufacturing
76 AAH Pharmaceuticals 132 up Scientific research and development
77 House of Fraser 141 up Retail
78 Tesco 173 up Retail
79 Boots 183 up Retail
80 Linklaters LLP 148 up Law - solicitors
81 Credit Suisse 208 up Investment banking and investment
82 Clifford Chance 102 up Law - solicitors
83 Bain & Company 186 up Consulting
84 Toyota 149 up Engineering, design and manufacturing
85 Intel 39 down IT and technology
86 The Co-operative 288 up Retail
87 Bank of America Merrill Lynch 204 up Investment banking and investment
88 E.ON UK 123 up Energy and utilities
89 Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) 143 up Scientific research and development
90 Barclays Retail Business Bank 28 down Banking, insurance and financial services
IT and technology
91 Abbott Laboratories 162 up Scientific research and development
92 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP 173 up Law - solicitors
93 Ministry of Defence 38 down IT and technology
Public sector
94 Volkswagen Group (incl. Bentley, Audi, SEAT, Škoda Auto) - - Engineering, design and manufacturing
95 Balfour Beatty 129 up Construction, civil engineering and surveying
96 Mott MacDonald 264 up Construction, civil engineering and surveying
97 STFC (The Science and Technology Facilities Council) 33 down Scientific research and development
98 Citi 208 up Investment banking and investment
99 Merlin Entertainments 138 up Hospitality, leisure and tourism
100 National Grid 113 up Engineering, design and manufacturing
101 Novartis UK 135 up Scientific research and development
102 DESG (Defence Engineering and Science Group) 171 up Engineering, design and manufacturing
103 BT 36 down Consulting
IT and Technology
104 Network Rail 162 up Engineering, design and manufacturing
IT and Technology
105 Ford 160 up Engineering, design and manufacturing
106 Diageo - - Consumer goods - manufacturing and marketing
107 npower 204 up Energy and utilities
108 The Royal Bank of Scotland Group 55 down Banking, insurance and financial services
109 American Express 76 down Banking, insurance and financial services
110 HP 60 down IT and technology
111 Lloyd's 110 down Banking, insurance and financial services
112 Thales 246 up

Engineering, design and manufacturing

113 Transport for London - - Engineering, design and manufacturing
Logistics, transport and supply chain
114 QinetiQ 208 up Engineering, design and manufacturing
115 Bayer 83 down Scientific research and development
116 GE Aviation 198 up Engineering, design and manufacturing
117 Honda - - Engineering, design and manufacturing
118 Barclays Wealth 293 up Banking, insurance and financial services
Investment banking and investment
119 DLA Piper LLP 146 up Law - solicitors
120 Santander 112 down Banking, insurance and financial services
121 Laing O'Rourke 262 up Construction, civil engineering and surveying
122 Sony - - IT and technology
123 AECOM 253 up Construction, civil engineering and surveying
124 Baker & McKenzie LLP 223 up Law - solicitors
125 Financial Services Authority 74 down Banking, insurance and financial services
126 Grant Thornton 155 up Accountancy and financial management
127 Herbert Smith LLP 215 up Law - solicitors
128 Schlumberger 288 up Engineering, design and manufacturing
129 Yorkshire Water - - Energy and utilities
130 Zurich Financial Services 111 down Banking, insurance and financial services
131 nucleargraduates 131 same Scientific research and development
132 1 Chancery Lane - - Law - barristers
133 PA Consulting Group 276 up Consulting
134 Eversheds LLP 141 up Law - solicitors
135 Aviva
212 up Banking, insurance and financial services
136 1 Gray's Inn Square - - Law - barristers
137 National Audit Office 89 down Accountancy and financial management
138 Tata Steel 276 up Engineering, design and manufacturing
139 Reckitt Benckiser 199 up Consumer goods - manufacturing and marketing
Scientific research and development
140 Groupon - - Retail
141 Lidl - - Retail
142 MERCK 87 down Scientific research and development
143 Roche UK 149 up Scientific research and development
144 ABB - - Engineering, design and manufacturing
145 Buro Happold - - Construction, civil engineering and surveying
146 Hogan Lovells 284 up Law - solicitors
147 AkzoNobel 253 up Scientific research and development
148 BASF 165 up Scientific research and development
149 Cisco - - IT and technology
150 Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) - - Energy and utilities
151 Anglian Water - - Energy and utilities
152 Blackstone Chambers - - Law - barristers
153 Mars & Co - up Consulting
154 Simmons & Simmons 194 up Law - solicitors
155 British Sugar - - Engineering, design and manufacturing
156 Savills 219 up Property
157 ScottishPower - - Energy and utilities
158 Centrica 264 up Energy and utilities
159 Jacobs Engineering - - Engineering, design and manufacturing
160 JCB - - Construction, civil engineering and surveying
161 LG - - Law - solicitors
162 UK Power Networks - - Energy and utilities
163 Aon 207 up Banking, insurance and financial services
164 Kimberly-Clark - - Scientific research and development
165 Lloyd's Register - - Engineering, design and manufacturing
166 Mercer 270 up Consulting
167 Nissan 246 up Engineering, design and manufacturing
168 Pinsent Masons LLP 202 up Law - solicitors
169 AXA 270 up Banking, insurance and financial services
170 DHL Supply Chain 262 up Logistics, transport and supply chain
171 Sellafield Ltd - - Energy and utilities
172 Ashurst LLP - - Law - solicitors
173 BDO 239 up Accountancy and financial management
174 Capgemini 165 down Consulting
175 Caterpillar - - Construction, civil engineering and surveying
176 Co-operative Financial Services - - Banking, insurance and financial services
177 Irwin Mitchell 253 up Law - solicitors
178 Nabarro LLP - - Law - solicitors
179 Oracle 171 down IT and technology
180 United Utilities - - Engineering, design and manufacturing
181 Dell - - IT and technology
182 Enterprise Rent-A-Car - - Logistics, transport and supply chain
Retail
183 Jackson Civil Engineering - - Construction, civil engineering and surveying
184 Knight Frank - - Property
185 Norton Rose Group LLP 276 up Law - solicitors
186 Syngenta 242 up Scientific research and development
187 Crown Office Chambers - - Law - barristers
188 Johnson Matthey - - Scientific research and development
189 One Essex Court - - Law - barristers
190 Veolia Water - - Energy and utilities
191 White & Case - - Law - solicitors
192 Addleshaw Goddard 288 up Law - solicitors
193 Bird & Bird 215 up Law - solicitors
194 Mills & Reeve LLP - - Law - solicitors
195 Skanska 293 up Construction, civil engineering and surveying
196 Total E&P UK Ltd 264 up Energy and utilities
Engineering, design and manufacturing
197 BAM Construct UK 276 up Construction, civil engineering and surveying
198 ConocoPhillips/Phillips 66 - - Energy and utilities
199 7 King's Bench Walk - - Law - barristers
200 Alstom - - Engineering, design and manufacturing
201 Amey - - Construction, civil engineering and surveying
202 ARM 215 up IT and technology
203 Baker Tilly 223 up Accountancy and financial management
204 CHP Consulting - - Consulting
205 Clyde & Co LLP - -  
206 Halcrow - - Construction, civil engineering and surveying
207 Macfarlanes LLP - -  
208 Mayer Brown International LLP - -  
209 Cornerstone Barristers - - Law - barristers
210 Babcock - - Engineering, design and manufacturing
211 Burges Salmon - -  
212 Kennedys - -  
213 Kier Group - - Construction, civil engineering and surveying
214 Shoosmiths - -  
215 Berwin Leighton Paisner - -  
216 Fountain Court Chambers - - Law - barristers
217 Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom UK LLP - -  
218 Sky 30 down IT and technology
Media and Advertising
219 FirstGroup - - Logistics, transport and supply chain
220 GE FMP (Financial Management Programme) 276 up Accountancy and financial management
221 Lincoln House Chambers - - Law - barristers
222 Metaswitch Networks - -  
223 Olswang LLP - -  
224 Samsung - - IT and technology
225 Standard Life 253 up Banking, insurance and financial services
226 Wood Group - - Energy and utilities
227 Wragge & Co LLP - -  
228 4-5 Grays Inn Square - - Law - barristers
229 BG Group - - Engineering, design and manufacturing
230 Bristows - -  
231 Dialog Semiconductor - - Engineering, design and manufacturing
232 Doughty Street Chambers - - Law - barristers
233 FDM - -  
234 Jones Day - -  
235 Kirkland & Ellis International LLP - -  
236 Bond Pearce LLP 270 up  
237 Carillion - - Construction, civil engineering and surveying
238 Ericsson 253 -  
239 Mace - - Construction, civil engineering and surveying
240 McGrigors (now merged with Pinsent Masons) - -  
241 URS - - Construction, civil engineering and surveying
242 Shearman & Sterling LLP - -  
243 Travers Smith - -  
244 Withers LLP - -  
245 Wolfson Microelectronics - - Engineering, design and manufacturing
246 11KBW - - Law - barristers
247 2 Bedford Row - - Law - barristers
248 Air Products - - Energy and utilities
249 Costain - - Construction, civil engineering and surveying
250 Cummins - -  
251 Forsters LLP - -  
252 Hill Dickinson LLP - -  
253 Morgan Sindall - - Construction, civil engineering and surveying
254 Mouchel - - Construction, civil engineering and surveying
255 Osborne Clarke - -  
256 Weil, Gotshal & Manges - -  
257 3M 206 down  
258 BAM Nuttall 284 up Construction, civil engineering and surveying
259 Bechtel - - Construction, civil engineering and surveying
260 Detica - -  
261 Foster Wheeler - - Energy and utilities
262 Garden Court Chambers - - Law - barristers
263 Logica - -  
264 Maidstone Chambers - - Law - barristers
265 Max Fordham - - Construction, civil engineering and surveying
266 Queen Elizabeth Building - - Law - barristers
267 Reed Smith - -  
268 Selex Galileo - - Engineering, design and manufacturing
268 SNR Denton - -  
270 3 Verulam Buildings - - Law - barristers
271 Coty - -  
272 Covance - - Scientific research and development
273 Double Negative - -  
274 Field Fisher Waterhouse - -  
275 Fujitsu 236 down  
276 Ince & Co - -  
277 Magnox - - Engineering, design and manufacturing
278 Monckton Chambers - - Law - barristers
279 Telefónica (O2) - -  
280 Quadrant Chambers - - Law - barristers
281 SJ Berwin - -  
282 Taylor Wessing - -  
283 TLT Solicitors LLP - -  
284 Vodafone 215 down  
285 XXIV Old Buildings - - Law - barristers
286 CMS LLP - -  
287 1 Pump Court - -  
288 The Bank of England 81 down  
289 Alan Baxter - - Construction, civil engineering and surveying
290 Ashfords LLP - -  
291 DAC Beachcroft - -  
292 Browne Jacobson LLP - -  
293 Cable & Wireless - -  
294 GE - -  
295 Holman Fenwick Willian - -  
296 Sullivan & Cromwell LLP - -  
297 Manches LLP - -  
298 Walker Morris - -  
299 Red Gate Software - -  
300 Renishaw - -