Primary Objective
To select the best graduates to grow Berkeley Group’s long-term management capability.
Our Approach
Our client needed to identify graduates who had the skills and ability to be competent at entry level, and that had the potential to develop and grow with the organisation; providing a sustainable yet varied pool of talent. Within the group of graduates selected, it was important that many of the graduates had the potential to be developed within the business onto the Executive Board of Management.
"An Integral Part
Of The Talent
Management Strategy"
What Bluestone Did
We designed and managed the ‘Berkeley Academy’ graduate recruitment program. Initially we conducted critical incident interviews to identify success factors within the business. Key competencies and behavioural indicators were developed, that were aligned with the culture and strategic focus of the organisation. From this, a specific assessment centre was designed, using the latest online selection and assessment tools to shortlist candidates.
Utilising the success factors we screened the application forms, and then conducted competency based telephone interviews on the remaining candidates to identify who to invite to the assessment centres. The assessment centre comprised personality profiling, ability tests, creative and lateral thinking tests, a business presentation, several group exercises and a further interview. Those that met the stringent criteria were selected. We provided in-depth feedback to all successful graduates, to ensure that they were aware of their strengths and development needs. We re-contacted newly recruited graduates after an initial period in the business to check on their progress, and to provide developmental support. We worked in close partnership with the client at all times and helped them to develop their graduate website, ensuring it provided information for candidates to decide whether Berkeley would provide the right environment for them to succeed, and to clearly signpost the assessment process. The Berkeley Academy has been running for 4 years and has become an integral part of their Talent Management strategy.
Client Feedback
The Academy has a very high profile in the business due to its ability to consistently recruit high performers. At a recent presentation given by Academy graduates during a conference on sustainability Tony Pidgley, Group Managing Director praised the quality of the research produced by the graduates and specifically on the calibre of the individuals involved.