Brightnetwork
Encyclopedia
Bright Network, the highest-ranked social recruitment site in the UK, is an independent, free, invitation-only careers network for graduates and undergraduates in the UK who achieve ABB at A Level (or equivalent). Bright Network members benefit from a social network
, exclusive events and one-on-one consultancy, all designed specifically to help students, graduates and young professionals connect with the top UK and international employers.
Launched only 18 months ago, Bright Network already works with over 50 leading companies, including Allen & Overy, Goldman Sachs, innocent drinks, The Mind Gym and KPMG.
Bright Network was originally conceived by its founder James Uffindell in 2007, when he had the idea to increase the opportunities both for bright graduates to find out about career options and for firms to identify the best talent.
In March 2011, Bright Network attracted investment from a consortium of angel investors with impressive track records in recruitment and technology. Michael Jackson, leading venture capitalist and former chairman of technology business Sage and Zach Miles, former CEO of Vedior , the recruitment business that was acquired for €3.5 billion by Ranstad in 2008, will join the company's board. Michael Jackson will become Bright Network's Chairman.
site in October 2009 and released it to students and graduates in early 2010 with a series of soft launches. To apply to join Bright Network, students are required to have a minimum of ABB/320 UCAS points at A Level or equivalent and are expected to be studying at, or graduated from, one of the UK’s top 20 or Russell Group
universities. The network aims to make the quality of candidates on the Bright Network consistently high and therefore match the requirements of its featured graduate
employers across a range of sectors.
, Bright Network aims to encourage the building of personal networks through events intended to provide undergraduates and graduates with useful career connections. The network also encourages recruiters to connect with students and graduates. There is a dedicated section on the network for events organised by the company, which includes Bright Network Loves You evenings and their annual Bright Network Festival.
Bright Network Loves You is an informal evening event where Bright Network members receive a free, one-on-one careers consultation, before networking with a glass of wine and nibbles. The consultations provide an opportunity for Bright Network members to find out about opportunities available to them, as well as to make personal career connections.
Bright Evenings are themed networking evenings featuring guest speakers from a particular industry or issue relevant to students and graduates. Bright Evening events in 2010 included:
The Bright Festival is an annual event run every September in Central London by Bright Network, consisting of the Commercial Law Network and Investment Banking Network networking events. Students who successfully apply to attend meet representatives at leading law
and banking firms.
Social network
A social network is a social structure made up of individuals called "nodes", which are tied by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, common interest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige.Social...
, exclusive events and one-on-one consultancy, all designed specifically to help students, graduates and young professionals connect with the top UK and international employers.
Launched only 18 months ago, Bright Network already works with over 50 leading companies, including Allen & Overy, Goldman Sachs, innocent drinks, The Mind Gym and KPMG.
Bright Network was originally conceived by its founder James Uffindell in 2007, when he had the idea to increase the opportunities both for bright graduates to find out about career options and for firms to identify the best talent.
In March 2011, Bright Network attracted investment from a consortium of angel investors with impressive track records in recruitment and technology. Michael Jackson, leading venture capitalist and former chairman of technology business Sage and Zach Miles, former CEO of Vedior , the recruitment business that was acquired for €3.5 billion by Ranstad in 2008, will join the company's board. Michael Jackson will become Bright Network's Chairman.
Website
Bright Network launched its new social mediaSocial media
The term Social Media refers to the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into an interactive dialogue. Andreas Kaplan and Michael Haenlein define social media as "a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0,...
site in October 2009 and released it to students and graduates in early 2010 with a series of soft launches. To apply to join Bright Network, students are required to have a minimum of ABB/320 UCAS points at A Level or equivalent and are expected to be studying at, or graduated from, one of the UK’s top 20 or Russell Group
Russell Group
The Russell Group is a collaboration of twenty UK universities that together receive two-thirds of research grant and contract funding in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1994 to represent their interests to the government, parliament and other similar bodies...
universities. The network aims to make the quality of candidates on the Bright Network consistently high and therefore match the requirements of its featured graduate
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
employers across a range of sectors.
Events
As well as being an online networkSocial network
A social network is a social structure made up of individuals called "nodes", which are tied by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, common interest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige.Social...
, Bright Network aims to encourage the building of personal networks through events intended to provide undergraduates and graduates with useful career connections. The network also encourages recruiters to connect with students and graduates. There is a dedicated section on the network for events organised by the company, which includes Bright Network Loves You evenings and their annual Bright Network Festival.
Bright Network Loves You is an informal evening event where Bright Network members receive a free, one-on-one careers consultation, before networking with a glass of wine and nibbles. The consultations provide an opportunity for Bright Network members to find out about opportunities available to them, as well as to make personal career connections.
Bright Evenings are themed networking evenings featuring guest speakers from a particular industry or issue relevant to students and graduates. Bright Evening events in 2010 included:
- June 2010 Evening Event – Getting into Private Equity - YouTube. Bright Network invited a panel of industry experts to give a short talk about their career experiences and to offer their advice about the best ways to get into the industry. The panel comprised Stewart Licudi, Vice President and Head of the Financial Sponsors Group and the European Technology Team at William Blair International who has worked on a broad range of cross-border transactions involving private equity, Hephzi Pemberton, a Partner at Kea Consultants who previously worked for Goldcap Search and was an Analyst at Lehman BrothersLehman BrothersLehman Brothers Holdings Inc. was a global financial services firm. Before declaring bankruptcy in 2008, Lehman was the fourth largest investment bank in the USA , doing business in investment banking, equity and fixed-income sales and trading Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (former NYSE ticker...
, Martin Mignot, Associate at Index VenturesIndex VenturesIndex Ventures is a venture capital investment firm based in Geneva, Switzerland, with offices in London, Jersey, and starting in 2011, Silcon Valley. The firm was founded in 1996 by Neil Rimer and Giuseppe Zocco. Since its inception, the firm has raised four main venture funds and a growth...
and previously an Analyst at UBS in London, and Toby Lewis, acting news editor at Private Equity News.
- July 2010 Evening Event – Getting into Consultancy - YouTube. Representatives from leading management and strategy consultancy firms gave presentations to Bright Network members interested on starting a consultancy career. The panel at this event consisted of Gemma Farrell, a consultant with OC&C, George Mendes, a Strategy Consultant with AccentureAccentureAccenture plc is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company headquartered in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. It is the largest consulting firm in the world and is a Fortune Global 500 company. As of September 2011, the company had more than 236,000 employees across...
and Richard Tydeman, a Senior Associate Consultant at Bain & CompanyBain & CompanyBain & Company is a global management consulting firm headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Bain is considered one of the most prestigious consulting firms in the world, with 47 offices in 30 countries and over 5,500 professionals on staff globally...
.
- August 2010 Evening Event - Getting into FMCG, RetailRetailRetail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
and MarketingMarketingMarketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
. Bright Network hosted an event featuring presentations from Innocent DrinksInnocent DrinksInnocent Drinks is a UK-based company founded in 1999 whose primary business is producing smoothies and flavoured spring water, sold in supermarkets, coffee shops and various other outlets nationally as well as in Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland...
, Mars, IncorporatedMars, IncorporatedMars, Incorporated is a worldwide manufacturer of confectionery, pet food, and other food products with US$30 billion in annual sales in 2010, and is ranked as the 5th largest privately held company in the United States by Forbes. Headquartered in McLean, unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia,...
, John Lewis (department store)John Lewis (department store)-Recent developments:In June 2004, John Lewis announced plans to open its first store in Northern Ireland at the Sprucefield Park development, the province's largest out of town shopping centre, located outside Lisburn and from Belfast. The application was approved in June 2005 and the opening of...
and WPPWPPWPP may refer to:* Windows software trace preprocessor* WPP plc, a London-based advertising holding company* Wandsworth Parks Police, a police service in London, England* Witness Protection Program, in USA...
.
- November 2010 Evening Event - Getting into Hedge Funds and Asset Management. Speakers were invited from leading and boutique hedge funds and asset management funds to network with Bright Network members.
The Bright Festival is an annual event run every September in Central London by Bright Network, consisting of the Commercial Law Network and Investment Banking Network networking events. Students who successfully apply to attend meet representatives at leading law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
and banking firms.
Bright Consultancy
Bright Network offers one-to-one careers consultancy through its Bright Consultancy Division.Current Bright Network Team members
- James Uffindell, CEO
- David Cohen, Strategy & Finance Director
- Claudia Bosworth, Commercial Director
- Rachel Spedding, Communications Director
- Julia Bowtell, Client & Marketing Manager
- Catherine Connell, Senior Consultant
- Liam Cadman, Consultant
- Markus Rafferty, Head of Development
- Julien Brancher, Developer
Previous Bright Network Team members
- Adam Hadley, Founding CTO August 2009 - May 2011