The irresistible rise of Teach First
21-10-2006
Teach First - the UK's fastest growing graduate recruiter - launches its new campaign developed by City&Law. In just three years Teach First has climbed to number 19 in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers, a remarkable achievement by any standards but for a not-for-profit organisation with such a complex offer this is truly staggering.
The fact is that Teach First appeals to high-calibre students for a whole raft of reasons - which is one of the reasons why it has attracted such a diverse range of graduates. Some want to try teaching for a limited period, some want to teach and see this as a fast route in, others like the idea of putting something back into the society that has given them so many advantages in life, while others see it is as a great raining ground and an opportunity to do something that will make them stand out in their future careers. Whatever the reason, it works as a proposition and employers all over the country, including some of its esteemed supporters, now see Teach First as a serious competitor for top talent.
Our work with Teach First has evolved with the programme and this year we have used a lot more of the 'stories from the frontline' to communicate the incredible, life-changing experience that many of the participants have on the programme. When we attended the Teach First passing out day for the most recent cadre of graduates we were genuinely blown away by the sheer energy, passion and enthusiasm we encountered. The graduates we encountered had been through the mill, faced some really tough experiences and been deeply challenged by their training experience. But they had also had a blast and were itching to get out to their schools and start being teachers.
So we have tried to capture some of that energy. We've given greater depth to the stories told by the participants - illustrating some of the lifestyle choices participants have made with the experience of Teach First behind them - and expanded the scrapbook section. The new approach combines the career-enhancement messages of previous campaigns with a warmer, more personal tone - emphasising that this is a very personal journey for each individual.
What's next for Teach First and City&Law - more challenges we hope. Watch this space for our Teach First podcast, coming soon.