Record demand for London Business School graduates

Rise of the start-up fails to dampen job hopes The economic storm clouds may show little sign of abating, but they are failing to dampen the spirits of the record number of employers looking to recruit London Business School talent.

This year’s Autumn Recruitment Evening, a new cross-sector event attracted an unprecedented amount of recruiters, almost doubling the number attending previous recruitment events last event, with over 150 jobs up for grabs for the right candidate.

Spanning energy, finance, technology, industrial, healthcare and start-ups, employers were looking to employ London Business School students and alumni for a range of roles across Europe, the US, China and Africa. Recruiters had the opportunity to network with a diverse international talent pool looking from graduate through to experienced hires.

Over 500 graduating students from across the School’s degree programmes, along with 150 alumni, came to the event, where they have unrivalled access to representatives from companies including Facebook, eBay, IBM, Vodafone, Capco, Lloyds Banking Group and Coller Capital. The event also saw a record number of start-ups at 13, including Songkick, onefinestay, Opower, HotelTonight and Project Oscar coming to the campus for the first time.

This trend was mirrored across the School, which is seeing increasing numbers of students setting up their own business via the School’s incubator or wishing to join start-ups.

John Kent is one such MBA student whose career has changed track since he started his degree at London Business School, with a military background as a paratrooper.

“Tech start-ups offer the chance to activate the full range of your talents and abilities.  These companies reward initiative and audacity and the emphasis is on performance rather than hierarchy,” he said. “I wanted the opportunity to be a part of something special, something changing the way we shop, travel, communicate, or work.”
 
During his time at London Business School, John has participated in technology start-up treks, organised by the School.

“In this space, and particularly because of the less structured recruiting practices, there is no substitute for getting out into their world and meeting people to forge connections through the LBS network,” he added.

For some, the School has also seen several start-up companies come full-circle; set up by London Business School alumni, who are now recruiting their future workforce. CrowdBnk, founded and run by alumni, is a crowd-funding platform that recently received FSA authorisation. About to roll out, its aim is to enable entrepreneurs to connect with the mass market of retail supporters in a new way. 
  
Commenting on the growth and popularity of start-ups, David Morris, Head of Corporate Sectors at London Business School’s Career Services, said: “The London technology scene has grown with the emphasis on Tech City ‘Silicon Roundabout’ in east London over the last couple of years.

“With a growing number of start-up incubators, workspaces and start-up events , our students get an excellent opportunity of connecting with the next ‘hot’ start-up for career opportunities or to discuss their own business ideas.”