Schools, colleges and community
The Leicester Employability Day
Wednesday 16 April 2025
What do you want to be when you’re older? A doctor? A dentist? Maybe an automotive engineer, or computer scientist, a university professor or a schoolteacher? Perhaps a policeman or a physiotherapist? An airport worker, accountant or business owner, or an investment manager in the City of London? Whatever your career interests, Black professionals representing all of these occupations – and more – will be present at the Leicester Employability Day 2025 to tell you how they got into these professions and how you can follow in their footsteps.
This free to attend event will be hosted in the Sir Bob Burgess Building on the University of Leicester main campus.
This event is not suitable for children under 13. All attendees under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Why attend?
- Discover pathways to success in a wide range of employment sectors
- Be inspired by and interact with professional Black role models
- Engage with leading community groups who help to prepare young people to become confident learners as they hone their talents
- Discover what private, public and third sector firms offer students aged 16 plus, university undergraduates and graduates
- Experience themed workshops and panels of experts - for great hints and tips
Who’s the event for?
This event welcomes students aged 13-22 and their parents or carers, and may be of particular interest to young Black people of African, Caribbean and Dual Heritage.
Register to attend
If you are interested in attending this year’s event, sign up by completing a short registration form.
Role models, experts and employers
Role models and expert panellists include: Amanda Edwards, Dr Ashiedu Joel, Dr Ayodeji Akiwowo, Dr Howard Haughton, Khumbu Mlotshwa, Learie Gonsalves, Dr Mark Esho, Dr Natalie Darko, Professor Sheryl Williams.
Other role models attending include: Celia Fraser, Dr Kehinde Aruleba, Dr Melrose Stewart MBE, Muriel Beoku-Betts, Olivia Brechon-Smith, Dr Pierre Ngon Mbara, Sandra Pollock OBE, Dr Zovanga Kone.
Our exhibitors this year will include: East Midlands Airport, Grant Thornton UK LLP, JLR, Leicester College, Leicestershire Police, Loughborough University, Sporting Equals, Twin Group, Asset Intelligence, RAF, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue, University of Leicester.
- View the programme for the day
Meet some of our role models at LED2025
Khumbu Mlotshwa is one of the faces of JLR. Of Jamaican and Zimbabwean heritage, he was born in Zimbabwe and educated there and in the UK, culminating in an Engineering degree from Sheffield University. He has spent most of his professional career with JLR. He currently leads a team within the Power Electronics space, managing and developing a team of engineers working on an essential aspect of electric vehicle design. Khumbu loves talking about cars and motorcycles, almost as much as he loves driving and riding them. His childhood passion was cars, which motivated him to study engineering at university; he is delighted to have been able to turn that passion into his occupation and wants to encourage other Black youngsters to follow in his footsteps. He also loves DJ-ing and plays bass guitar. When he's not in his garage or at work, he can often be found on stage getting a crowd dancing!
Celia Fraser, born in Coventry to Jamaican parents, had most of her schooling in Birmingham, UK. A keen junior tennis player, she did her BBA Finance degree at University of Houston, Texas, on a 100% Tennis Scholarship. In her Senior Year, she captained the Women’s Tennis Team to its most successful year ever. She graduated in 2014 with a First-Class degree and 11 US-wide and institutional academic and sporting awards. Since returning to the UK in 2014, she has worked for several top international companies, including PWC, Accenture, Lloyds Banking Group and, for the past 5 years, the Europe and Asia-Pac operations of Capital Group (CG). Previously co-head of Business Data, Analytics and Tools at CG, which she helped build from scratch, she is currently Client Experience and Strategic Initiatives Lead. Celia has won many accolades, including InvestmentWeek Women in Investment Rising Star (Large Companies), 2021, and Black Women in Asset Management 40 under 40, 2023. She speaks at numerous conferences and gives back as a Vice-Chair of Governors at her former school, a Corporate Advisor for the Cowrie Scholarship Foundation, and an Ambassador for Urban Synergy Mentoring. She watches Arsenal and plays the piano in her spare time.
Directions to Sir Bob Burgess Building
- See a map of the Sir Bob Burgess Building.
- If you are arriving on foot there are a number of entrances directly off Welford Road, which are signposted.
- Leicester Railway Station is located approximately a 25-minute walk from Sir Bob Burgess Building. Or you can catch the 48 bus from Stand ED outside of the train station to University Road stop. From there you can walk to Sir Bob Burgess Building within 5 minutes.
- Although we encourage using public transport to be kinder to the environment, car parking is available nearby at the Freeman’s Common multi-storey car park.
- Please be aware Leicester City Council will be completing essential resurfacing work to University Road, between Lancaster Road and Welford Road on this date. Whilst the roadworks will not restrict immediate access to the Sir Bob Burgess Building or the Freeman's multi-storey car park (MSCP), the road closure may impact the route you take to the event. We recommend checking your route or public transport routes ahead of travelling and to ensure you leave enough travel time to take account of possible delays.
Helpful information
- Our food outlets on campus are cashless. Our nearest outlet to Sir Bob Burgess Building is Freeman’s Kitchen, located just outside. You are also welcome to bring a packed lunch to this event.
- There are a variety of water stations on campus to fill up water bottles. Please ask a member of staff if you’re struggling to locate one. We suggest bringing a reusable cup to get a 15p discount on hot drinks at the Freeman’s Kitchen.
- The multi-faith prayer room is available in the adjacent building, Freemen’s Reception. Please let a member of staff or student ambassador know if you cannot locate this room.