Our Industry Links
University College Birmingham values its strong links with industry, enabling us to support our students’ future progression. We have excellent relationships with local, national and international businesses and practitioners, ensuring students have the professional skills and attributes to build a successful career.
How UCB’s Industry Links Benefit Our Students
- Our links ensure students remain up-to-date with the latest industry trends
- Learning approaches are industry-led – students benefit from practical work, courses and examples designed to encompass current practice and demands
- Collaboration with UCB’s industry partners improves the employment prospects of graduates
- Our vocational courses ensure students are equipped with a wide range of skills
- Graduates are able to contribute from day one in their chosen career thanks to relevant industry experience
How We Work With Industry
- Many of our courses include national and international industrial placements which provide extensive opportunities for learning and enrichment
- UCB holds an Erasmus University Charter so our students can receive a grant to study for three to 12 months at one of our partner universities in the European Union
- International study-abroad programmes include partner universities in Australia, China, Malaysia, Thailand and the United States
- Specialist speakers regularly visit UCB and provide invaluable insights on current trends, challenges and opportunities facing the industries we serve
- We champion the exchange and training of staff
- We advise on state-of-the-art, highly specialised equipment
- We are endorsed and recognised by leading industry bodies
What Industry Says About UCB
"UCB is a very special institution and we have never failed to be impressed by the dedication and caring nature of the staff."
"The courses have a very strong 'practitioner' focus and the right mix of theory to produce business-ready graduates."
"UCB's courses have been designed with the needs of today's business in mind. Students will acquire knowledge and skills that businesses need to compete in today's globally-competitive world."
"UCB has become an important part of our food network and new challenges are welcomed with a high degree of professionalism, enthusiasm and attention to detail. The facilities, students and support staff are second to none."
"UCB continues to raise the bar for the education of chefs and has played a key part in the culinary renaissance of Birmingham and the widening of provision of food courses that are highly respected by industry."
"I like the emphasis on skills and employability development throughout the curriculum. So many graduates are unsure what career path to pursue and the fact that UCB's courses support this right from the start is very pleasing."
"It has been great having UCB students on placement as they have brought lots of enthusiasm. The Children's Society has given them opportunities to get involved in our direct service delivery with children and young people, fundraising and campaigning for change on a local and national level."
"Edgbaston Park Day Nursery has had students on placement from UCB for more than five years and their standard has been consistently high. We are always happy to support UCB students in providing them with an environment that supports and complements their theoretical learning."
"We continue to have extremely positive experiences with the students from UCB and have been happy to offer employment opportunities. We always find UCB students are well prepared for their placements and have a clear view of their own expectations."
"UCB students that come to The Ridings are involved with as many aspects of social care as possible. They work on developing their work ethic, approach, respect and the importance of time management. All UCB students that have been placed at The Ridings have been very polite and a pleasure to work with."
"I trained at UCB's College of Food and back then the facilities were great. Now they are amazing. UCB is the Number 1 food college in the country. I am always happy to take trainees from the College of Food because I know they will have had a great grounding in traditional skills."
"Callebaut is one of the leading providers of chocolate to the professional world of bakers, patissiers, chocolatiers and restaurant chefs. We see UCB's College of Food as the leading bakery school in the UK and we feel privileged to have been an education partner for the last eight years. We believe UCB is justifiably famous for its chocolate training and due to increased numbers has been able to open a bespoke classroom dedicated to chocolate work."
"We have developed strong links with UCB offering short and long-term work placements. We have also worked with UCB on charity events where students have been instrumental in raising funds for very worthy causes. The students we have had over the years have been of a high calibre."
"We have worked with the University since the Hyatt Regency opened in 1990 and our relationship continues today on many levels. We have found the students to be of a high standard and to have a good solid grounding in the skills needed for our industry. We regularly recruit these students to work with us on a permanent basis after the placement."
"The students are always prepared and have a passion for the industry which is a credit to the University. Following their placements, a lot of the students have continued to work for us on a part-time basis which is of great benefit to the company."
"I am the Service Fitness Advisor for West Midlands Fire Service, working in a multidisciplinary in-house occupational health unit. We have taken many students for work placement, mainly from UCB, to gain valuable practical experience within the rehabilitation industry. UCB students are particularly keen to learn and they are obviously taught to a very high standard."
"As a graduate of UCB, I couldn't recommend the University highly enough. The content of the course is very relevant and there are so many opportunities for enthusiastic, committed and professional graduates both in the UK and overseas."
"I approached UCB with a view to using their media make-up students on set whilst producing a feature-length film called "Losing Innocence". The students were exclusively responsible for the make-up for the film and I couldn't have been more delighted. The students were incredibly talented, professional and dedicated."
"With over 20 years' experience working as a hair and make-up artist in television and film, my credits include Hustle, Footballers' Wives and Fat Friends, and working as personal make-up artist to Joan Collins. I have provided work experience for UCB students whilst filming Hustle. It was a pleasure having the students from UCB on set. I found them to be both creative and very helpful."
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Our Industry Endorsements
The University’s commitment to vocational training, innovation and excellence is valued and respected by our industry partners. Here is a snapshot of the professional bodies and organisations who endorse our work and support our educational ethos:
- The Chartered Institute of Marketing
The Chartered Institute of Marketing defines the marketing standards that operate in the UK and is the global champion of best marketing practice. All UCB’s marketing courses are accredited by the CIM which allows students the opportunity to study for various CIM professional qualifications, either during or at the end of their study.
- Chartered Management Institute
The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) promotes the highest standards in management and leadership excellence and encompasses a community of more than 100,000 members. The prestigious
Chartered Manager (CMgr) status demonstrates managerial competence and functional ability and provides recognition of professional management capability. UCB’s Business Enterprise courses have been dual accredited by the CMI.
- AA College Rosette, Highly Commended
- Institute of Travel and Tourism
- Tourism Management Institute
- The Institute of Hospitality
- The Tourism Society
- Institute of Directors (West Midlands)
- Royal Aeronautical Society
- Tourism Concern
- The Association of Tourism in Higher Education