Congratulations to Nielsen on being selected as one of our Oxfordshire Business Awards Apprenticeship of the Year 2017 finalists! This fantastic achievement comes after the success of two of Nielsen’s Apprentices at the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards in March – Jess Le Jeune was crowned Higher Apprentice of the Year, with a Highly Commended for Ollie Swaden. Read on to find out what makes their Apprenticeships fit the bill...

Nielsen is the largest market research company in the world, with 1300 staff from 44 different nationalities working across 11 offices in the UK and Ireland, including their headquarters in Headington. They study what consumers watch and buy in 47 European markets and across more than 100 countries around the world, with the aim of giving their clients a comprehensive view of buying trends and media habits.

Nielsen’s Apprenticeship story

Nielsen’s Apprenticeship scheme has grown from their first intake of 8 Apprentices in 2014, to 46 Apprentices in 2017. The company offers Apprenticeships at Levels 3, 5 and 6 and has just introduced a Business Management Degree Apprenticeship for September 2017. During National Apprenticeship in March this year, they were named as a Top 100 UK Employer for Apprenticeships.

The firm has designed a programme that positions each Apprentice within a core team, but enables them to spend time in different parts of the business, so that they graduate ready to take up an executive post with a detailed understanding of the different aspects of Nielsen and how they integrate.

Apprentices receive exceptional mentoring and support throughout their Apprenticeship and follow a personalised development plan, including working towards college objectives, personal objectives and business satisfaction goals. They are also given the opportunity to progress within the company, with Level 3 Apprentices being offered the opportunity to move onto the Level 5 Apprenticeship in Business Innovation and Growth in order for them to be further equipped with the skills they need for a highly effective career.

Apprentices bring a high level of refreshing energy and a keen willingness to drive a sociable working environment and have owned the Nielsen social calendar for the last 3 years. They have liaised with the Country Management Team in coordinating high profile events such as the Nielsen Summer Ball, Global Impact Day and the Queen’s 90th Birthday celebrations.

Growth and improvement

Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards Higher Apprentice of the Year Jess Le Jeune joined Nielsen as a a Business Innovation & Growth Apprentice in September 2015. She says: “Nielsen are a fantastic employer to work for, due to them largely focusing on providing a great 'people experience' for their employees.”

“The company is dedicated to creating an environment that enables and encourages personal growth and professional growth, to ensure that you constantly improve and develop day in and day out. Every single day at Nielsen you learn something new, either about the organisation, yourself or the team you work for, which is one of many reasons why people love to work for Nielsen. Due to this, an environment is created where no two days are the same and everyone walks around with a smile on their face.”

Jess with her Higher Apprentice of the Year Award at the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards.

Nielsen have been working with the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy at Westminster Kingsway College to deliver Apprenticeships since 2014. They say: “Nielsen have constantly looked to make improvements and adjustments that enrich the experience of the Apprentices on the programme. The group and one to one support provided by the company has stood the students in very good stead and ensured that they each can achieve their potential. Over the last two and a half years, we have not ceased to be impressed by the proactive manner in which Nielsen has tackled every challenge posed by changes in the organisation or the government. Nielsen put itself forward to be the lead employer in the trailblazer project for one of the new Apprenticeship programmes. Apprentices have also attested to the commendable work done by managers and other executives to integrate them into the organisation and ensure that they grow and develop appropriately.”