Jonathan Bainbridge is currently the Director of the Professional Development Centre at Brunel University London, where he leads a team of approximately 45 colleagues to support and improve the career prospects of current students and recent graduates. Before joining Brunel, Jonathan held several roles at The University of Reading, including Head of Employer Engagement and Acting Director of the Careers and Employment Service. He also worked in a Further Education College for six years. Jonathan is passionate about enabling students from all backgrounds to achieve their career aspirations, with a particular dedication to positively impacting social mobility.
One-year industrial placements are often regarded as the gold standard for positively impacting graduate outcomes. According to the latest UK Graduate Outcomes data from my institution, graduates who completed a placement are 23% more likely to secure graduate-level employment and earn over £3,000 more annually than those who did not. They are also more likely to achieve a higher degree classification. This trend is evident across UK institutions.
The 2023 State of the Nation (UK) report from the National Council for Universities and Business indicates that 23.6% of UK undergraduates were enrolled in sandwich courses with placements. The increasing number of universities offering placement options has led to heightened competition among students seeking placements. However, there are ‘good’ reasons why some students opt out of placements, such as limited opportunities in their sector or region and the desire to avoid extending their degree duration.
Universities are continuously developing alternative opportunities for students to enhance their commercial awareness and apply their learning in real-world settings. Building and scaling effective collaborations and partnerships with industry can be a powerful approach to developing high-impact initiatives that benefit both students and employers.
Improved career prospects are a significant consideration for many prospective students when applying to university, as evidenced by numerous articles and sector reports, such as: “7 Compelling Reasons Why You Should Go To College” by Forbes Advisor and “The Value of Going to University” by Universities UK.
Partnership Examples
Careers and employment services, along with the wider university, often offer a range of employability activities that rely heavily on industry collaboration. Some examples include:
- Professional career mentoring
- Employability/panel events, including workshops, presentations, and sector/industry panels
- Industry challenges, offered either within the curriculum or as an extra-curricular activity
- Internships and work experience
- Consultancy projects
Effective partnerships require time investment from both sides, key champions within each organisation, and clear motivations for collaboration. While universities often have transactional relationships with employers, such as advertising vacancies and hosting events, true collaborations offer richer, deeper relationships that are often sustained over time. The Cambridge Dictionary defines collaboration as “the act of working together with other people or organisations to create or achieve something.”
The Case for Collaboration
Why should universities and industry invest time in building collaborations that can enhance students’ employment prospects and benefit employer partners? What successful examples exist across the sector, and what lessons can be learned for institutions looking to develop this area?
Industry Projects
Employers often cite a lack of capacity, time, or budget to take on placements or interns. An alternative is to offer industry challenges set by employer partners, allowing students to work in small teams to develop solutions to real-world problems. Employers benefit from the creative ideas students present, which can be further explored by the industry partner. This activity can be scaled to benefit a larger proportion of students. For example, the READY Employability Programme partners with UNHCR to offer students a live, 10-week project focused on a settlement in Zambia, attracting over 350 participants annually.
The Power of a Brand
Each year, hundreds of thousands of graduates ‘around the world’ complete University and start their career journey. Their challenge is to provide evidence in their job applications that help them stand out in a competitive recruitment process. Universities who partner with well-known, globally recognised employers can give students an additional advantage. Universities can strategically choose partners based on their connections and unique institutional values. For example, European universities have gained traction by partnering with Premiership football clubs, which have charitable functions. For instance, French Business School AMOS and Brunel University London have partnered with Chelsea FC to offer unique industry challenge experiences for students. These experiences, whether curriculum-based or extracurricular, provide students with valuable learning opportunities and enhance their CVs.
Career Mentoring
Career mentoring programs can build partnerships with employers and offer scope for scalability. Many universities run career mentoring programs, typically managed by the Careers Service and supported by the Alumni Team. These programs can address specific employer challenges, such as skills shortages or diversity issues. Strong alumni connections can facilitate partnerships with globally recognized employers, giving students valuable experiences to add to their CVs. The mentee’s professional network is enhanced by completing a mentoring program and can lead to additional experiences within the organisation. Other benefits of mentoring partnerships include employer visits, insight days, and greater visibility of the employers’ potential job opportunities and their recruitment process.
Lessons Learnt
There have been many learnings from the collaborations developed at my current institution. Key success factors include having senior sponsors at both the university and industry partners to overcome initial hurdles. Speed is also crucial; true collaborations take time to develop, and obtaining proof of concept initially helps before scaling projects effectively. The power of a brand is essential; choose partnerships wisely. Once an initial partnership is developed and a project delivered, it is easier to pitch the concept to other potential employers and industry partners. Finding staff with the right skill set and employer insight to lead on these projects, universities often operate at a different speed to commercial organisations. Finally, play to your institution’s strengths. My current institution has a strong focus on social mobility and is one of the most ethnically diverse universities in the UK. Your university will have its own unique selling points and values that align well with specific employer areas of focus.