Now in its 7th year, the University of Westminster is proud to still run the Inclusive Futures: Insights programme, where students gain first-hand experience of what it is like to work in fast-paced global organisations and hear directly from business professionals by attending a series of employer insight sessions and completing various online career-related activities.
Inclusive Futures: Insights (IFI) is an employability-focused programme designed to provide 40 students with the opportunity to grow their own network, build confidence, and gain invaluable insight into the huge range of career opportunities that London has to offer. Participants are awarded a bursary for taking part.
In addition to the insight sessions, the scheme offers students workshops on virtual networking confidence, how to create a LinkedIn profile and network, building personal brands, and imposter syndrome. In collaboration with the Mentoring team, students participate in Ask-A-Mentor and Group mentoring. To help students prepare for their employability journey they carry out several virtual activities such as Career Set, Shortlist.me, Forage, and a LinkedIn course.
Simran Sidhu, a BSC Computer Science student, one of the recipients in 2022–23, said:
Engaging in this programme not only enhanced my confidence but also provided me with comprehensive insights into diverse career trajectories, marking a significant milestone in my academic journey. Through participation in exclusive insight days with prominent London employers, I acquired exposure to a spectrum of career avenues, gaining invaluable knowledge across various industries and roles. This facilitated exploration across diverse career opportunities, enabling me to learn from the experiences of professionals.
Additionally, I maximised the value of these sessions by actively engaging with multiple employers during insight days, and proactively seeking advice and insights from them to enrich my understanding of different career paths. To maintain such connections, I actively connected with these employers on LinkedIn. Before this programme, I had not engaged in employer networking, nor had I encountered the opportunity to do so. Through IFI, I was presented with the chance to cultivate my network in new environments, which contributed to enhancing my confidence in the working world.
Following programme completion, I have experienced an increase in confidence and proficiency in expanding my network, engaging with employers, and leveraging my network connections where relevant. Participation in the programme has transformed me into a more confident individual, equipped with valuable insights into various career paths and a heightened self-assurance in navigating my professional journey.”
If your organisation would like to find out more about IFI, please get in touch with us at: [email protected].