Hosted by our Careers and Employability Service, the Vice-Chancellor’s University of Westminster Employability Awards is an annual celebration of the outstanding achievements of our students and the valuable contribution made by our alumni, community partners and employers.
The evening is an opportunity to celebrate our student community, for their engagement with key employability activities and initiatives across the university, including the Westminster Employability Award, Future Ready Mentoring, Talent Bank, Placements, Volunteering, Work Based and Placement Learning, Explore Teaching, WeNetwork, and more.
Student winners are selected from the following initiatives.
Westminster Employability Award
The Westminster Employability Award is an employability achievement award, supporting students’ career development by formally recognising the extracurricular activities they complete during their time at the University of Westminster. Bringing together over 150+ activities, the Award offers students the chance to explore their career options, to build their confidence, to gain new skills, and to get job-ready.
Prizes are offered in a range of categories to those who demonstrate commitment to their personal and professional development on the scheme. A full list can be seen here.
Talent Bank
Talent Bank is a scheme that offers students the opportunity to apply for a range of part-time roles across various departments within the University of Westminster. It is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop transferable skills, gain valuable professional experience and increase their job prospects after graduation.
Placements
Placement Student Awards recognise outstanding students who have participated in developing their professional experience and knowledge of an industry by taking on a short-term or long-term placement.
Work experience and internships give students the chance to achieve relevant, professional experience and knowledge of a particular industry, build their professional network and gain potential references.
Explore Teaching
Awarded to students or graduates who have volunteered their time as teaching assistants within London schools and colleges and have made a significant contribution in raising motivation and attainment.
Explore Teaching provides students with a valuable opportunity to gain work experience in a school classroom. The scheme offers a 15-day placement in a school or college, supporting teachers in a specialist subject area whilst exploring a future career in teaching.
Future Ready Mentoring
The Future Ready Mentoring scheme recognises students or graduates who have benefited significantly from the expertise and insight of their mentors and have grown personally and professionally as a result of their mentoring relationship.
Since launching in 2010, students have benefited significantly from the expertise and insight of our mentors. Each year, we match students and recent graduates with a professional who has volunteered their time to mentor an individual as they make their transition to the world of work. As a facilitator of personal and professional growth, mentors can help to develop and improve employability through personalised support and providing unique opportunities.
Volunteering
Each year, hundreds of Westminster students volunteer to support charitable causes that matter to them. Students who volunteer also have the opportunity to nominate themselves as Student Volunteer of the Year.
Work Based and Placement Learning
The Work Based and Placement Learning Project (WBPL) is all about equipping students with the right skills and experience to compete in today’s graduate labour market and secure a highly skilled graduate role.
Awards are offered to those who demonstrate outstanding commitment to the project.
WeNetwork
The WeNework offer dynamic events and activities to help students not only realise their potential but also nurture transferable enterprise and employability skills. From freelancing to starting your own business or side hustle, the WeNetwork offer a spectrum of exciting opportunities.
Prizes are awarded to students who actively engage with the programmes offered by the WeNetwork Employer and Mentor Awards
We work closely with many employers and mentors who are key to the careers and employability initiatives we offer to our students. These awards are to recognise the continuous support and efforts from our key partners.
Other awards
Other awards may be presented at the annual event, in recognition of the various employability activities taking place at the university.
You can watch this video from our 2024 event: