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University of Birmingham wins student employability award

Student employability initiative, The Birmingham Project, has won the Employer and Community Partnerships Award at the Academic Employability Awards 2026

6 May 2026
Three individuals in formal dress stand on a stage, holding an award.

Left to right: Dr Brooke Storer-Church (Chief Executive of Guild HE), Dr Sarah Hall (Academic Director, The Birmingham Project) and Bob Lee (Programme Project Officer, The Birmingham Project)

The University of Birmingham has been awarded the Employer and Community Partnerships Award at the Academic Employability Awards this year for The Birmingham Project. The Birmingham Project is a one-week collaborative programme where first-year students work in multidisciplinary teams to develop solutions to seven employer-set challenges.

The Academic Employability Awards are organised by the Graduate Futures Institute, a careers and employability membership body for careers professionals. They recognise and celebrate universities across the UK and Ireland, which are transforming the way students learn and prepare for their future careers.

Professor Deborah Longworth, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education), said: “The University of Birmingham prides itself on providing meaningful opportunities for students to develop their skills, engage with our industry partners, and benefit from a wide range of co-curricular experiences that will support them in their future careers. 

“Preparing our students for the world of work is core to our education approach, and this award for The Birmingham Project reflects the outstanding professional development and career support delivered across the University.”

Preparing our students for the world of work is core to our education approach, and this award for The Birmingham Project reflects the outstanding professional development and career support delivered across the University.

Professor Deborah Longworth, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education)

The Birmingham Project is a flagship employability initiative led by academics and Careers Network. It gives first-year undergraduate students real world, sustainability-focused challenges while strengthening their graduate skills and international outlook.

Operating through a multi-employer model that brings students closer to industry, it works with seven different employers: Birmingham City FC, Conde Nast, Expedia Group, HSBC, Siemens, Transport for West Midlands and West Midlands Combined Authority.

Since its inception in 2013, more than 2,000 students have completed the programme and the scheme has since expanded to include the University of Birmingham Dubai campus, connecting students and partners across the globe.

Drew Linforth, Interim Director of Student Employability at the University of Birmingham, said: “We are delighted to see The Birmingham Project and the efforts of the Careers Network team recognised at this year’s Academic Employability Awards. This award demonstrates the importance of providing real-world learning opportunities that empower students to develop the skills and confidence they need to become the industry leaders of the future.

Graduate employability

This accolade follows the University being named again in the top two institutions for attracting the UK’s top 100 graduate employers in the Graduate Market report compiled by High Fliers.

The University is also among the world’s top 250 institutions for producing the most employable graduates - according to the Global Employability University Ranking & Survey 2026 (GEURS), produced by Times Higher Education (THE).

Paul Kett, London South Bank University (LSBU) Group Chief Executive and Vice‑Chancellor, and Chair of the Academic Employability Awards Judging Panel, said: “It has never been more important for universities to prepare students for successful futures, as the world of work is rapidly evolving. Employability must be a strategic priority for every institution, and a shared responsibility for all, rooted in our civic mission."

Taking place at the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies in London, the awards were organised in partnership with a variety of organisations, such as Enterprise Educators UK, Enterprise Mobility, Guild HE, The Institute of Student Employers and Universities UK.

As part of its 2030 Strategy, the University is committed to delivering a high-quality education for all students and to supporting our graduates to thrive in their careers and develop future-focused skills.

Notes for editors

For more information, please contact the Press Office at the University of Birmingham on or +44 (0)121 414 2772

About the University of Birmingham:

  • The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, educators and more than 40,000 students from over 150 countries.

  • England’s first civic university, the University of Birmingham, is proud to be rooted in one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in the country. A member of the Russell Group and a founding member of the Universitas 21 global network of research universities, the University of Birmingham has been changing the way the world works for more than a century.

  • The University of Birmingham is committed to achieving operational net zero carbon. It is seeking to change society and the environment positively, and use its research and education to make a major global contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Find out at birmingham.ac.uk/sustainability.

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