Complete University Guide reveals UK’s largest employers of graduates

The Complete University Guide today reveals that the multiple arms of Boots – the Nottingham-based pharmaceutical and retail group – recruit the greatest number of UK graduates seeking graduate-level employment.

The Complete University Guide’s analysis of the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey shows that the company’s various divisions recruited more than 520 graduates in 2009–10.

Even when doctors, dentists and nurses are excluded, the National Health Service absorbed almost 500 graduates.

The financial services industry, as identified by the graduates themselves, accounted for seven of the top ten recruiters, as identified by students responding to the survey. Banks and corporate finance accounted for half of the jobs for graduates with the top ten companies.

Tesco was the highest-placed retail business, in sixth place.

The analysis is restricted to employers with more than 50 employees who recruited four or more graduates. It excludes smaller companies and graduates who have launched their own businesses.

The highest placed graduate employer not in the NHS or health, finance, retail or the service sector is BAE Systems in 16th place, and the second highest Rolls-Royce at 18th.

The analysis allows graduating students and applicants to see the key areas of demand for their skills nationally, by region and by sector.

Dr Bernard Kingston, principal author of The Complete University Guide, said: "This is the first time that the recruitment pattern of graduates has been analysed in this way. It gives the clearest picture yet of the organisations that recruit graduates, and the pattern of recruitment by region.

"The data are derived from returns by graduates and the employers they have identified have not been confirmed by the employers themselves. Nevertheless we believe it is a valuable facility for young people looking for graduate level employment in extremely challenging times.

"We are launching the analysis to the higher education sector first so that there is an opportunity for reaction and comments on the way the data are presented and analysed, and to hear suggestions for how it might be improved in future."

The data can be seen here, with a new range of subject and career profiles.