Local collaboration drives early careers progression

To achieve this vision, the NTU Employability team continuously collaborate with partners to understand that embedding work experience is paramount in shaping students’ career journeys. They also help employers to develop their diversity and inclusivity practices and connect with target groups.

Experian continues to demonstrate its commitment to upskilling the next generation of talent. In fact, over the past four years, Experian have hired over 20 students and graduates from NTU.

In addition, they have been heavily involved in a number of key initiatives under the Social Mobility, Diversity and Inclusion umbrella as well as NTU’s ‘Rise’ programme, which provides additional support for students who are statistically the most disadvantaged in terms of their career prospects. This includes students with low household incomes, those with disabilities, and care leavers. ‘Rise’ students represent almost 50% of NTU’s population.

In 2023, Experian hosted 9 first-year students, largely from ethnic minority backgrounds, at their Nottingham offices, as part of the Rise Insight Programme. This year, 10 students visited Experian for an Insight day. The experience aims to:

• Expose students to a range of industries they may not have considered, raising their commercial awareness and career aspirations.
• Highlight the breadth of career opportunities within the local area.
• Allow employers to inspire students about their organisation, building a future talent pipeline for placement and graduate roles.

Experian are founding members of the Digital Data and Technology Advisory Board (DDTAB). A joint initiative with the University of Nottingham, started in April 2021, to bring digital and technology employers together to discuss recruitment, skills and implications regionally.

"Experian have been one of the core members of the DDTAB since it was set up in 2021, as they have always focused on supporting local university initiatives. The focus was to ensure that graduates from NTU had the relevant skillsets when they left university and joined work. Experian also wanted to recruit local diverse talent and retain this talent in the region, which is why they joined the board."

(Joel Alex, Employer Engagement Officer, NTU)

Ultimately, the Employability Team facilitates Experian’s extensive collaboration with the university. Other avenues of activity with NTU include:

• Supporting over 180 students with the award-winning Student Sales Academy. This employer-led career development programme aims to de-mystifies sales and the stereotypes of a salesperson as well as teaches students practical sales skills and techniques.
• Representing the STEM industry at an Empowering Ethnic Minorities Series panel discussion.
• Working closely with the Apprenticeships Team, exploring how they can develop their outreach programme to educate young people ahead of their university careers.
• Supporting NTU’s application for a UKRI Creating Opportunities Evaluation Development Fund grant, seeking to enhance student readiness and reduce the skills mismatch between graduates and employers.
• Broadening their reach into the regional community to improve financial health and raise awareness of the benefits of AI.

By working together, it’s possible to enhance student prospects, specifically whilst showcasing the region as an attractive destination for graduate employment.

To find out more about engaging with NTU students and graduates, contact talent@ntu.ac.uk / 0115 848 2189.