University of Leicester’s employability strategy scoops industry award
Director of the Careers and Employability Service, Jo Wheldon, left, and Lecturer in Biological Sciences, Dr Alix Blockley, with the award trophy.
The University of Leicester has won an industry award which reflects its commitment to supporting students and graduates to develop the skills, experience and confidence they need to succeed in an ever‑changing global workplace.
The University’s Careers and Employability Service scooped the Best University Employability Strategy title at the 2026 targetjobs Awards.
The award recognises the whole-University commitment to embedding employability within the student experience, including the 100 hours of work-related learning initiative.
Judged by industry experts and employers, the University was also shortlisted for the HE Careers and Employability Team of the Year award, further recognising the strength and dedication to employability at Leicester.
Director of the Careers and Employability Service, Jo Wheldon, said: “This is fantastic recognition of the innovative work we have delivered at the University of Leicester to ensure our students have a full and rounded curriculum. The 100hrs WRL ensures all students have employer-informed learning as part of their research-inspired education and reinforces our position as a leader in employability within UK higher education.”
“The team at the University of Leicester has worked brilliantly and collaboratively together to deliver institutionally wide change, across all undergraduate on-campus programmes and this recognition is well deserved for the hard work and dedication to ensuring the University of Leicester offers the very best to our students and graduates.”
The University’s submission demonstrated how coordinated activity – spanning careers support, curriculum development, employer engagement and skills-focused initiatives – equips students with meaningful opportunities to enhance their future opportunities.
New initiatives such as the Black Leadership Programme and Women’s Career Accelerator, delivered with major employers, are boosting student confidence, networks and career readiness. The submission also highlighted the significant growth in engagement, with more than 4,500 students attending the autumn 2025/26 careers fair and more than 250 employers working with Leicester.
The impact is clear: nearly 90% of finalists now graduate with work experience, almost half with significant experience and career readiness levels are rising. Increased engagement from underrepresented groups also reflects the University’s commitment to inclusivity.
In the HE Careers and Employability Team of the Year category, the shortlisting celebrated the achievements of the 100 Hours Working Group, recognising the collaborative effort of colleagues from across the University who are shaping an inclusive and innovative employability offer. The submission illustrated how teams have come together to create high-quality opportunities and ensure that employability remains central to the Leicester student journey.
Formed in early 2025, the cross‑University team successfully designed and implemented a framework to ensure all 128 undergraduate programmes embed 100 hours of employer‑informed work‑related learning from September 2026. Co‑chaired by academic and professional service leaders, the group brought together expertise from across Colleges, central services and external partners to create shared tools, definitions and quality processes that enabled every School to meet this major institutional commitment within just 12 months.
The team’s collaborative approach has transformed Leicester’s employability provision, upskilling more than 100 colleagues, streamlining curriculum processes and ensuring consistent, high‑quality student experience across the institution. Their work has already enabled 100% programme engagement, supported thousands of module‑level decisions, and built long‑term value through a new Theory of Change and evaluation plan. By fostering trust, shared ownership and open communication, the team has delivered a scalable, sector‑leading model for embedding employer‑informed learning and position Leicester as a national leader in inclusive, future‑focused education.