No fewer than 80 employers – including the NHS, an award-winning national construction company and a kids’ football coaching enterprise – came to tap into new industry talent at the biggest careers fair in University College Birmingham’s history.   

Just under 1,000 undergraduates, postgraduates and college students keen to get their foot on the career ladder and explore opportunities attended the huge event to check out the wealth of job vacancies, placements, internships and apprenticeships on offer.  

Organised by Hired, University College Birmingham’s careers, employability and placements team, and held across the University’s Moss and McIntyre House campus buildings, the careers fair provided the perfect platform for students to network and build relationships with employers from a diverse mix of industries and sectors.

Lynn Jaffa, managing director of Incarta, a luxury hospitality placement service, described the students as “outstanding” and offered a number of internships after having a positive experience with students at The Headland in Newquay last year. The company is also looking to work with the University to expand international placements. 

And among many other successes of the day, 90 students registered their interest to work at The Eastside Rooms, Birmingham’s exciting, newest conference venue, which combines innovation with the city’s industrial heritage.

Aslo among the employers attending the careers fair were representatives from global construction firm ISG.

Amber Mellors from ISG said: “The day provided the perfect opportunity for businesses within Birmingham to come together and share the future options students have in the city.

“It was fantastic to see so many students interested in a future within construction and the different early career pathways available. We hope we can build upon the connections made on the day.”

Katie Bytheway, Director of Student Employability (Higher Education) at the University, said the Hired team were immensely proud of their largest careers event to date.  

“Our students had the opportunity to network with a huge number of employers across a vast number of industries,” she said.  

“They are working towards being the next generation of graduates, bringing enthusiasm, fresh ideas and skills to local, national and international employers.  

“This type of event showcases both the type of opportunities available for them in their chosen discipline and also broadens horizons, allowing them to explore other industries where their transferable skills will be just as valuable.” 

The impressive list of employers looking for the next stream of talent included divisions from the NHS, from hospitals to prisons and mental health units, and from the sports, engineering and construction, hospitality and education sectors. 

Full and part-time paid roles, volunteering opportunities, graduate schemes and placements were all on offer, while students were also able to find out about opportunities and gain advice and guidance and the careers open to them from a host of recruitment companies.

For more information about the support we provide, visit the Hired careers, placements and employability service. You can also follow Hired on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.