Pictured above: Jonathan Evans, Director, Discovery Graduates

Graduate recruitment specialists in the West Midlands have been appointed to source the candidates for BAE Systems' demanding Graduate Scheme.

Discovery Graduates, based in Birmingham, won the contract to recruit for the SIGMA Programme following a successful pitch from Directors Jonathan and Sarah Evans, beating two competing firms to secure the deal. They are now busily receiving applications for entry onto the scheme later this year.

Jo Shields, SIGMA and Graduate Development Framework Manager at BAE Systems said:

"Discovery Graduates were, for us, a natural choice. Their drive and passion, coupled with expert knowledge, an appetite for continuous improvement and cutting edge techniques gave us the confidence that they not only understood their market, but they also knew how they could best support the growth of our high potential future leaders programme. Discovery Graduates are a pleasure to work with; committed, energetic and professional in their approach, they are passionate about offering a great service to clients and candidates alike"

Speaking on behalf of Discovery Graduates, Jonathan Evans commented:

"We are delighted to have been awarded the opportunity to work with BAE Systems on their SIGMA recruitment campaign, especially in light of being up against such worthy contenders. It is a further endorsement of the expertise and passion of our team to support companies through the complexities of the graduate market."

There are only six places open on the SIGMA Programme, so with competition fierce, the application process is equally rigorous. Candidates must complete an in-depth application form, with successful applicants facing a telephone interview, first round assessment centre with Discovery Graduates, aptitude testing and then a visit to the BAE Systems assessment centre.

In addition to sourcing Graduates for the SIGMA Programme, Discovery Graduates is additionally handling the continued development of existing staff at BAE Systems, through its unique training scheme 'The OPEN Programme', with two candidates having already completed the first module late last year.

Jo Shields explained her enthusiasm for the OPEN Programme:

"The Discovery Graduates OPEN Programme is a remarkable offering, one that I believe will make a huge difference to the development and future progression and retention of the individuals attending. In such a competitive marketplace, this could make all the difference to the success of an organisation's graduate programmes."

The candidates are due to complete modules two and three in May and November, developing their skills as effective leaders and team workers.