It’s International Women’s Day folks. Time to celebrate our independence and rock out some new shoes! Have a look here at the 50 women who changed the world….

Not only has Barclays Capital won the title of Best Placement & Internship Employer 2012 at the Rate My Placement Awards, Grant Thornton won a SoMe award for Best Use of Blogger Relations (a site we’re proud to say we built!). Have a little nosey here…Rate My Placement Award and Grant Thornton blog.

Whether you’re drowning in cards and heart shaped chocolates, or trying to avoid the whole day completely we hope you’re having a very happy Valentine’s Day!

The events team was at the lovely Linklaters’ offices on Friday for OPEN, our disability law event. 7 firms and 46 students attended. Unique and interactive, the day provided attendees with the opportunity to learn all about graduate opportunities in corporate law. We were delighted with the enthusiastic response of students and reps alike – looking forward to next year already!

We now have real live concrete evidence that the best way to get in touch with students is on campus. 53% of all the students who attended our events found out about them via their university. Watch out all Careers Services, Academic departments and Societies – we are coming to get you! And we are armed with posters!

We have now pretty much recovered from the events rush! We had a fantastic season and have received some insightful and encouraging responses to our feedback surveys.

It was lovely to hear that our LGBT event, Inside & Out, was ‘…hugely inspirational, a massive personal confidence boost.’ Another student echoed this enthusiasm – ‘the event was fantastic. It really opened my eyes to how banks are ahead of the curve when it comes to personal development.’ And one more agreed – ‘Enlightening and inspirational. A great opportunity to hear what banks are doing to encourage diversity.’

Confirms that the effort made by all our team is really worthwhile!

We had a fantastic turnout for our UBS Unlock Your Potential event back in November – 60 (exactly!) female first year students of the highest calibre. No surprise that we are putting together a submission for the target diversity awards. All our fingers and toes are crossed for success!

Happy 2012 everyone!! What’s your news years resolution?! Our office could probably do well to eat less chocolate… And be kinder to animals (think he liked it really).

Here’s to a happy and prosperous 2012.

We’re mid event season here at Stafford Long with two events down and three to go!! Next week will be a busy one with the UBS Unlock Your Potential on Tuesday, Inside & Out event on Wednesday and the London Banking Summit the week after.

LBS is a new venture for the team and will see 140 MBA students winging their way from the best colleges in the US to take part in this two-day event, which will connect them with recruiters at the top investment banks. There is a tremendously busy schedule, with back-to-back informational and insight sessions with each of the banks. The grand finale will take place in the London Transport Museum where canapés and drinks will be flowing!

A lot of hard work has gone into this event and we’re looking forward to finally meeting the students and doing our best to persuade them to stay in the Big Smoke!

We’re all very excited here in SLAP towers, as tomorrow holds the first Getting Investment Banking event! It’s been designed to provide people with disabilities and long-term health conditions an insight into the true nature of the opportunities available within investment banking and the support that can be provided. 12 of the world’s top investment banks are taking part and the student applications have been high – over 300!! Here’s hoping a successful event!