Global employer branding organization Universum has released its 2011 rankings of the Ideal Employers to work for, based on the responses of over 13000 students in the United Kingdom studying in the five major disciplines of business/commerce; engineering/IT; natural science: humanities/liberal arts & education, and law.

The rankings reveal that after a particularly bad run in 2010 - reflecting the effects of the recession - banks this year are back with a bang among the most preferred employment destinations of students in the UK, with four of them in the top 10. Most of them have climbed several notches upward since the last rankings and some have even managed to improve on their 2009 ranks.

However, next-gen companies with a reputation for innovation and top public recall - such as Apple and Google - continue to dominate the list, bagging top honors among both business and engineering/IT students.

The Big Four (in consulting) too continue to be a tight pack, with two of them in the top 10.

Start slideshow to take a look at the 10 most ideal employers rated by students in the field of business/commerce.

1. Apple
Industry: Consumer Electronics/Technology Headquarters: California, USA Employees: 50000 approximately 2010 Revenues: $65 billion plus Pros: Smart people to work with; product innovation and excitement; diversity Reuters
Google
Google REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
3. HSBC
Industry: Banking and Financial Services Headquarters: London, UK Employees: 300,000 plus 2010 Revenues: $98 billion approximately Pros: Brand repute; opportunities for career advancement; exposure REUTERS
4. PwC PricewaterhouseCoopers
Industry: Professional Services (one of the Big Four) Headquarters: New York, USA Employees: 161,000 2010 Revenues: $27 billion approximately Pros: Upward mobility and opportunities for learning; competitive compensation IBTimes
7. Microsoft
Industry: Technology (Computers) Headquarters: Redmond - Washington, USA Employees: 89,000 2010 Revenues: $62 billion plus Pros: Flexibility and mobility; benefits; diversity Reuters
8. JP Morgan
Industry: Banking and Financial Services Headquarters: New York, USA Employees: 239,000 plus 2010 Revenues: $102 billion Pros: Business reputation and leadership; exposure; benefits Reuters
9. Bank of England
Industry: Banking and Regulatory Services (Central Bank of England) Headquarters: London, UK Employees: Less than 5000 Pros: Working with people with deep knowledge in various disciplines; national and societal impact. REUTERS
Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs Reuters
Microsoft United kingdom Apple Google