British Council Graduate Scheme 2012

At the British Council we know that language, education and culture are the UK’s most attractive assets and when we share them we build relationships and trust with other countries. These cultural relations provide a stable, long term platform for UK security, prosperity and trade.

There has never been a better time to be a British Council Graduate. We are a business that thrives on talent, with an impressive record of success since 1934. We are searching for the next generation of leaders to build on this success into the future and are looking for people who work well as part of a team and have the leadership skills, passion, commitment, integrity and drive to make things happen.

The programmes we have in place are designed to highlight the qualities you already have, developing your full-potential and giving you a real cultural-relations edge and focus to prepare you for a future with us. In order to become a British Council graduate you will need, at minimum to meet the following essential criteria:

• A minimum of a 2.1. degree or equivalent
• Have graduated in the last 5 years
• You will be fluent in English AND have language skills in one of the following: Mandarin; Japanese; Arabic; Russian; Spanish; French and Portuguese.
• You will have the Right to Work in the UK

HR Graduate - London - Ref: BCG001

HR are looking for a graduate to be placed in a series of our specialist HR areas, including Recruitment, Talent, Reward or Workforce Planning developing and delivering projects for each area giving you the chance to shape our people strategy and add real value to our business..

Recruitment: Working within busy dual-site team, gaining experience of the end to end recruitment process and getting involved with recruitment projects which could include social media campaign pilots and reviewing existing practices against market benchmarks.

Talent, Performance Management & Learning & Development: There will be a broad base of experience to be developed with you time in this team. You will develop new opportunities for the teams core business such as investigating new suppliers for online learning, working with a supplier to develop a 360 degree feedback tool for our internal Behaviours model and developing training materials including the use of social media in this forum.

e-HR: We are in the process of developing and implementing a new online HR system. You will become involved in the communications and change management programme of implementing this new system. There will also be opportunities to get involved with the training of the system and developing a shared service for HR throughout the business.

Reward: You will get involved in benchmark activities around pay and reward, job evaluation and role shape by contributing to the research and analysis of current and new policies and procedures collate and communicate key messages within current projects

Digital Graduate - London - Ref: BCG002

Digital:
The new digital team has been set up to achieve a transformation in the British Council’s digital portfolio, as a defined core team to lead a major change programme to transform the British Council into a digital business. The team consists of digital technical experts, an editorial team, a regional product development team and support functions in programme management, business analytics and finance. Many of the digital roles are co-located in functional departments such as Visual Arts.
Visual Arts promotes British visual arts through a range of activities and events including touring exhibitions, workshops, seminars, and conferences overseas led by British artists, curators and other specialists overseas, as well as study programmes for overseas visitors in the UK.

This role within the new Digital technical team is an exciting opportunity for someone who has studied software engineering or web development. You will join a small team of people who will be rolling out the new British Council website across different sites around the world, working closely with Information Architects and Designers. This role will give you clear examples of work you will have developed and delivered. In order to be successful in this role, you will need a good knowledge of XHTML and CSS including the ability to implement them on Drupal templates in PHP. You will also need a good understanding of Drupal (installing modules and setting up blocks and regions), CMS and experience of creating pages using CSS and HTML5 from PSDs provided by designers. Finally you will have the ability to create dynamic elements using Javascript.

Digital Communications Graduate - London - Ref: BCG003

Visual Arts & Digital:
The new digital team has been set up to achieve a transformation in the British Council’s digital portfolio, as a defined core team to lead a major change programme to transform the British Council into a digital business. The team consists of digital technical experts, an editorial team, a regional product development team and support functions in programme management, business analytics and finance. Many of the digital roles are co-located in functional departments such as Visual Arts.
Visual Arts promotes British visual arts through a range of activities and events including touring exhibitions, workshops, seminars, and conferences overseas led by British artists, curators and other specialists overseas, as well as study programmes for overseas visitors in the UK.

Based in the Arts Communications Team but will interface specifically with the Digital department. The role will work across a range of digital content and platforms, developing an understanding of different digital audiences across the wider British Council landscape with a particular emphasis on the UK Arts infrastructure. The deliverables will include the development of digital film and audio content for projects across the world, digital presentations, contacts databases and the writing, editing and uploading of stories for a range of digital channels. The interface with the central Digital team will also present opportunities for the individual to work on specific content development projects as they arise from the overarching Digital programme.

PR & Communications Graduate – Corporate HQ – London Ref: BCG004

The Corporate HQ team’s role is to:
 Build the British Council’s reputation, brand and stakeholder relationships in the UK and around the world
 Set and champion the British Council’s strategic direction, including developing the Corporate Plan and performance targets and coordinating relationships with the UK Government
 Supporting the Board of Trustees, Chair and Chief Executive and assuring our overall corporate governance, policies and frameworks
 Lead the development and use of digital technologies in our cultural relations programmes around the world
The team will be recruiting two graduate roles. Whilst being primarily based in specific Corporate HQ teams, both roles will include an opportunity to learn about and experience the full breath of Corporate HQ’s functions and work through either specific placements or working on collaborative projects. Both roles will include clear personal development plans and have the opportunity to access coaching and a senior level mentor. The roles will include the possibility of some overseas travel each year and will provide a wide ranging experience of the British Council’s work. Both post holders will also be given the opportunity to study for a Chartered Institute of Public Relations or Chartered Institute of Marketing Certificate or Diploma, or related qualification.

This role is primarily based in the Corporate Communications team and will be responsible for a mixture of media relations and online communications with a particular focus on publicity around our Arts work by:
• Responding to media enquiries and supporting media projects to ensure maximum exposure for the British Council’s work
• Assisting with arts long-term communications planning
• Writing and uploading press releases to the website and working with the Homepage and social media teams to ensure PR alignment with digital channels
• Assisting with the organisation of media, stakeholder and public events/conferences
• Managing at least one project to strengthen relationships with key political and sector stakeholders – likely focused on the UK’s diverse communities.

Some work experience in a press office or other marketing and communications role is desirable, as is a relevant degree in English, Business, Economics (or other similar arts / social science discipline).

Marketing Graduate – Corporate HQ - London Ref: BCG005

The Corporate HQ team’s role is to:
 Build the British Council’s reputation, brand and stakeholder relationships in the UK and around the world
 Set and champion the British Council’s strategic direction, including developing the Corporate Plan and performance targets and coordinating relationships with the UK Government
 Supporting the Board of Trustees, Chair and Chief Executive and assuring our overall corporate governance, policies and frameworks
 Lead the development and use of digital technologies in our cultural relations programmes around the world
The team will be recruiting two graduate roles. Whilst being primarily based in specific Corporate HQ teams, both roles will include an opportunity to learn about and experience the full breath of Corporate HQ’s functions and work through either specific placements or working on collaborative projects. Both roles will include clear personal development plans and have the opportunity to access coaching and a senior level mentor. The roles will include the possibility of some overseas travel each year and will provide a wide ranging experience of the British Council’s work. Both post holders will also be given the opportunity to study for a Chartered Institute of Public Relations or Chartered Institute of Marketing Certificate or Diploma, or related qualification.

The role is primarily based within the Corporate Marketing Team. You will be contributing to raising the profile of the British Council’s work internally and externally in the UK and around the world by:
• Undertaking research and analysis, including market research and policy research
• Brand development and assistance
• Coordinating the marketing development fund
• Information and insight management
• Working with the External Relations team to support the British Council’s engagement with key political and sector stakeholders to improve their understanding and experience of the British Council’s work.

We are looking for someone who has had work experience and a relevant degree in a business or marketing related subject.

Youth Programmes Project Graduate (MENA) - London Ref: BCG006

Our work in Education and Society is an area of huge opportunity and one which is central to cultural relations. It is as important now as it always has been and is at the heart of our Charter. We are focussing on three priority areas. These build on solid groundwork and the core partnerships built around education and society over many years. The three priority areas are:
• Internationalising education: higher education, skills and research
• Global citizens and schools
• Governance: policy reform and systemic change

You will be supporting the Director of Youth Programmes based in London and will be to provide UK based research support to the Young Arab Research Network. You will:
• Develop strong links with the Middle East Research Centre at LSE
• Work with the Youth Networks teams, such as the British Council Science team, Open Society London and get involved with their MENA debate
• Support our Activities in the MENA Region including environment workshops in schools, science/arts festivals and the Cairo Education Conference (in collaboration with the Arab League)
• Generate a list of relevant organisations and institutions based in the UK working for/with the MENA Region.
In order to be successful in this graduate role, you will need to have a 2.1. degree in International Relations, Politics, the social sciences or a language and have excellent English language skills both spoken and particularly written.

Intercultural Training Project Graduate – London Ref: BCG007

Our work in Education and Society is an area of huge opportunity and one which is central to cultural relations. It is as important now as it always has been and is at the heart of our Charter. We are focussing on three priority areas. These build on solid groundwork and the core partnerships built around education and society over many years. The three priority areas are:
• Internationalising education: higher education, skills and research
• Global citizens and schools
• Governance: policy reform and systemic change

You will be supporting the Senior Advisor for Vocational and Educational Training based in London. The role will incorporate:
• providing research support for the team’s projects
• contributing to the development of proposals, report and project plans
• support the co-ordination of activities, plans & resources
• develop our management information process
• Plan and manage stakeholder consultations (developing new products and programmes)
• Co-ordinate key account management in the UK
• Contribute to raising the profile of our work, both internally and externally
• Assist in the management of our contractors

The successful candidate will have a degree in Education and/or International Development and will have exceptional English Language skills, along with impressive communication and relationship management ability

Finance Business Graduate – London Ref: BCG008

Programmes & Projects:
P&P’s purpose is to lead the British Council’s contract growth ambitions, working in partnership with Strategic Business Units, regions and BC teams globally to identify, position for, secure and implement contracts that deliver cultural relations impact for the organisation.

Based within the P&P supporting infrastructure, the Finance Business Graduate will be developed in financial accounting, business processes and pricing and costing the projects through the department. The successful candidate will have a background science, maths and/or physics, have strong IT, analytical and relationship management skills and ideally have some commercial work experience.

Trusts & Foundations Graduate - London Ref: BCG009

Partnerships are an essential element in cultural relations and where possible we will work with partners to introduce solutions which reflect positively on the UK, to create greater impact through co-creation and sharing expertise, networks, resources and sponsorship. We will look for the organisations and individuals who will influence the shape, economics and culture of our future world.

The central Partnership and Business Development team’s focus is on partnership working with Corporates, foundations, high net-worth individuals and relevant supra-national/governmental organisations. Although closely aligned with the Full Cost Recovery business, the team’s priority is to grow the organisation’s partnership funded programmes. To meet our goals, we need to better understand potential global Trust and Foundations requirements and maximise income opportunities with them.

This role will assist the head of Trusts and Foundations and will develop a range of transferable skills in a varied environment. You will be involved with identifying future funding opportunities, helping with developing suitable proposals and researching market trends and best practise within the industry of Trusts and Foundations. You will also make key contacts within the British Council in order to share insights and information with other departments.

If you have been involved with fundraising, volunteering and community organisation in the past, have a strong academic background and have exceptional writing and presentation skills, this could be the graduate development role for you.

Graduate Assistant to the Director – Edinburgh Ref: BCG010

UK Region - Scotland:
The British Council Scotland builds long-term international relationships and trust between the peoples of Scotland and other countries, mindful of the international priorities of the Scottish Government. Established in 1946 in Edinburgh, its purpose was, from the outset, to promote the best of Scottish culture and learning to the rest of the world; bringing foreign academics, students, policymakers and artists to Scotland and taking counterparts abroad. Today BC Scotland is highly valued for its global reach. Through offices in 110 countries, BC Scotland pulls together overseas knowledge, experience, and perspectives, catalyses relationships, and provides confident comments on issues affecting Scotland's profile and standing in the world. Its overseas offices are also a source of support and assistance in-country to visiting cultural and educational envoys from Scotland, knowing the key players and most relevant institutions. The position offered is to assist the Director in delivering this mission.

Based in Edinburgh supporting the Director of Scotland. Main aspects of the role will include:
• Development of a new strategically-focussed, Scotland orientated work programme and the evaluation of the existing programme
• Profiling and promotion of the Scotland elements of global programmes
• Policy and review work, monitoring progress on projects, developing performance indicators and conducting value-for-money audits
• Review and management of budgets
The person who is successful in this role will need to have a strong understanding of Scottish culture and politics. They will need to have exceptional interpersonal skills and be a strong communicator both in terms of building key relationships, being a credible support to the country director and a strong writer. Experience of project management, developing measurable solutions and analysing budgets or finances would be extremely desirable.

Business Analyst Graduate – Edinburgh Ref: BCG011

Programmes & Projects:
P&P’s purpose is to lead the British Council’s contract growth ambitions, working in partnership with Strategic Business Units, regions and BC teams globally to identify, position for, secure and implement contracts that deliver cultural relations impact for the organisation.

Based within the P&P supporting infrastructure, the Business Analyst Graduate will be developed in Business Analysis, processes and IT systems, financial accounting and business costings of the projects that run through the department. The successful candidate will have a science or maths background and will be keen to study ACCA or CIMA throughout the 24 month scheme. They will also have strong IT, communications and relationship development skills.

Information Knowledge Management Graduate - London, Edinburgh or Cardiff Ref: BCG012

Based in the IKM team you will deliver services around privacy and data protection, freedom of information and information risk management. You’ll research legal and best practice sources, contribute to electronic records management initiatives, provide support for the global network of information policy advisors and maintain multimedia communications channels for spreading IM skills and knowledge. Successful candidates will be fluent in English and have language skills in one of the following: Mandarin, Japanese, Arabic, Russian, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Global Business Development Graduate x 2 Ref: BCG013 London – Global

We deliver UK examinations overseas as part of our cultural relations work as a means to raise educational standards worldwide, attract more people to UK educational standards and widen our networks. Our examinations business is self-funding. It generates £50 million of earnings each year for UK examination boards.
• The roles will be assigned to the Exams business, initially in London then overseas in a country where our business is growing (Brazil, China, India etc.). The main developmental aspects of the roles will be to gain first-hand experience of international business, especially the development of the Exams business in growing markets.
• The successful candidates will gain specialist sector knowledge (delivery in an international market) and the British Council’s relationships with UK exams boards.
• The role can be moulded according to the individual’s interests but is likely to include some elements of marketing, financial planning and forecasting, market research & analysis, competitor analysis and opportunities for innovation.
• To be successful you will need to have the required level degree in Business Studies.

Global Projects Graduate – Manchester/Nairobi Ref: BCG014

Programmes & Project’s purpose is to lead the British Council’s contract growth ambitions, working in partnership with Strategic Business Units, regions and BC teams globally to identify, position for, secure and implement contracts that deliver cultural relations impact for the organisation.

Initially in Manchester for 6 months, this role will involve developing and writing proposals for future projects. After this the role will be based in Niarobi for several months researching future business, identifying partners and developing those external relationships.

Finally there will be ‘in the field’ experience working on a specific project within your area of research or interest. It is particularly desirable for the successful candidate to have studied research based subjects such as History or Archaeology, and to have language skills in French or Arabic.

European Cultural Relations Graduate Ref: BCG015 Madrid, Spain

The British Council in Spain:
Our high-profile commitment over 70 years in Spain means that we enjoy access to key figures and a reputation for excellence in our core areas of operation. We have a strong self-funding presence in 4 major cities and adjoining towns, with a total of 16 centres. We are seen as a key conduit to UK arts, education and science, and we lead the market in English language teaching, and examinations delivery.

This graduate role will centre on supporting the Country Director in embassy liaison and external relationships (Chamber of Commerce, etc) in Madrid. You will be involved in the planning, reporting and evaluation of grant projects. Specifically this will include building team skills in key areas: partnership building, marketing, proposal writing, event management, plus general support in learning & development. All will involve internal and external communications which you will help deliver and you will also be building key connections with the teaching and exams teams. You will also have the opportunity of managing discrete projects within Arts, Education & Society and English.

To be successful in this placement, you will need to have had some experience of project management and marketing and communications. It is essential that you will be able to speak Spanish at an operational level according to the Foreign Office’s framework for assessing language ability.

Strategic Business Projects Graduate Ref: BCG016, Lisbon

The British Council in Portugal:

Our general reputation in Portugal is high and longstanding, based on our role as the official cultural agency for the UK and we are known especially for our English teaching. Through Teaching and exams we reach around 20,000 individuals a year whilst our projects reach 46,000 plus large numbers of visitors to exhibitions.

You will be working in our Strategic Business Unit based in Lisbon, Portugal. Innovation and entrepreneurship will be required to undertake range of project work, with the UK practitioners within the creative industries and arts. This will include project planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation, financial planning and marketing and media communications on a number of business lead projects and programmes that run within Portugal. You will also be involved with fund-raising and partnership development with the British Council Arts team (based in Portugal).

To be successful you will need a degree in the arts, creative or media related subjects, you will also have completed other internship programmes and/or work placements in a related field. You will have experience in fund raising, developing relationships with sponsorship partners within a work experience context and knowledge/experience of EU funded projects and programmes either within an internship, work experience or first job environment. Ideally your second language will be Portuguese.

Middle East Business Management Graduate Trainee Graduate Ref: BCG017

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia (MENA Region):
Saudi Arabia is the most important and influential country in the Gulf States, a member of the G20, WTO and other international agencies, and the focal point for one-fifth of the world’s population that is Muslim. It is of the utmost importance to the UK politically, as an international partner with considerable regional and wider influence on the world’s most pressing global issues including climate change, and global security.

Through this two year posting in Jeddah, you will be developed to learn everything a general manager needs to know. This includes some core management skills (HR, finance and risk management) as well as more specialised project management including the field of creative industries, working with other strategic business units of the British Council (English, Education and Arts) and with local partners and stakeholders in Saudi Arabia.

You will also gain valuable business skills, supporting the teaching and learning of English and developing partnerships with new clients, customers and sponsors. To be developed as part of the Jeddah management team you will learn a variety of approaches to leadership from different team leaders. By the end of two years you will already be developing your own leadership style for the future.

We are looking for an exceptional individual who will have a degree in Politics, International Business or Social or Political Sciences. It is also essential that your second language is Arabic to an operational level of competence according to the foreign offices framework of assessment.

Education Development Graduate Ref: BCG018 - Beijing and Shanghai with travel across China

The British Council aims to help develop excellent relations between people in the UK and China through engagement in large scale initiatives which work in and across the areas of culture, education, language, science and society.

Education Development Graduate
The graduate role will be based in Beijing and Shanghai but will also work across Mainland China. The key areas of the role will be to manage of strands of British Council education programme in China, being developed by the Director of Education in China, with a particular focus on higher education and skills. You will be working with Chinese national and provincial level stakeholders throughout your time there as well as developing relationships with UK partners.

To be successful in this placement, you will need to have studied in a related subject to the role, such as Education, Chinese or International Affairs. It is essential that you will be able to speak Chinese (Mandarin) at an operational level according to the Foreign Office’s framework for assessing language ability.

Global English Ref: BCG019

Global English is part of the English Strategic Business Unit along with Exams and Teaching. Its focus is primarily of high impact and high audience figures but is increasingly looking for income earning opportunities from a range of teacher and learner products.

There are three sections within the Global English programme: Interface which targets policymakers; Engage which targets English teachers and Connect which targets English learners

Global English Graduate
The role will be assigned to a department called English & Exams in London or Manchester conducting research into how digital English Language Teaching products can to be adapted for different platforms and audiences.

There will be a significant amount of analysing particular market needs from our known customers and audience.

There will also be a secondment to a digital hub overseas such as Warsaw, Singapore, Brazil amongst others, assisting on a particular product. Technical skills in product development will be needed in order to be successful in the role.

On top of your degree you will need to have a CELTA qualification.

How to Apply

For any further details please email britishcouncil@gradcore.co.uk detailing the reference number for the role you are interested in.

Completed application forms should be sent to:

bcgrads@gradcore.co.uk

Closing date: 4 June 2012