Launch your career with advice from industry leaders

The University of Bradford’s hugely successful Career Booster programme has been adapted to give final year students a leg up in the workplace.

Career Launch offers students about to graduate a unique opportunity to gain industry advice from some of the country’s most successful business leaders.

They include Bradford alumni Jabbar Sardar, Global HR Director for BBC Studios, Riaz Shah, Partner and Global Learning Leader, Ernst & Young and Martin Allison, Entrepreneur in Residence.

Three separate sessions will take place, each designed to offer insight into the employment market and ensure graduates are properly prepared.

Professor Vishanth Weerakkody, Dean of the Faculty of Management, Law and Social Sciences at the University of Bradford, said: “Students graduating in the summer of 2021 will be transitioning into an uncertain post-pandemic employment market. I am pleased to announce that in partnership with our successful alumni and career services, we have designed the Career Launch programme to help our final year students make the right choices and plan their career pathways leading up to graduation.

“The first in a series of workshops will take place next week and I encourage all final year students in the faculty of Management, Law and Social Sciences to join the Career Launch programme.”

The free course is being offered to all final year students in the Faculty of Management, Law and Social Sciences and is in addition to the University’s continuing careers and employability support for all its graduates for up to five years after graduation.

Sessions are planned for March, April and May and include high profile keynote speakers and question and answer alumni panels, representing all degrees from across the Faculty of Management, Law and Social Sciences. 

Course information at a glance

Session 1: Inspire and Aspire – Wednesday 24 March, 1300 to 1600

Session 2: Apply and Succeed – Wednesday 28 April, 1300 to 1600

Session 3: Reflect, Consolidate and Achieve - booking link coming soon

Additional information

Inspire and Aspire – Wednesday 24 March, 1 to 4pm (3 hours towards the Career Booster HEAR)

‘Thriving in the Graduate Market’

Riaz Shah, Partner and Global Learning Leader, Ernst & Young

Alumnus of Business Studies BSc (1983)

Riaz is leading the area of Learning, globally across Ernst & Young, along with strategic partners to help prepare the organisations 300,000 plus workforce for the ‘Future of Work’. 

‘Life Lessons to my Student Self’

Martin Allison, Entrepreneur in Residence

Alumnus MBA (1991)

Martin is an energetic and enthusiastic individual, and has operated in public, private, sporting and third sector organisations.   Martin’s diverse range of experiences has allowed him to develop a high level of competence in strategic planning and implementation, innovation, governance, risk management, coaching and leadership.

Keynote speakers followed by alumni panel break-out rooms, relevant to all degree programmes within the Faculty of Management, Law and Social Sciences.

Apply and Succeed – Wednesday 28th April (3 hours towards the Career Booster HEAR)

Session includes:

‘Success as a Bradford Graduate’

Jabbar Sardar, Global HR Director for BBC Studios.

Jabbar is a fine example of University of Bradford’s home-grown talent; having completed his undergraduate degree at Bradford, later followed by a Bradford MBA and developing his early career in the University of Bradford, and later Bradford Council. 

Jabbar joined the BBC in January 2016 and oversees all HR activity for production and reports to BBC group HR Director. For the past four years Jabbar has been nominated one of the most influential HR Directors in the UK by HR Magazine. Prior to joining the BBC, Jabbar was Director of HR & Organisational Development at Cafcass between 2006 to 2015. 

Jabbar’s session will be followed by alumni panel break-out rooms, relevant to all degree programmes within the Faculty of Management, Law and Social Sciences, themed ‘Lessons learnt from my application and selection processes’.

Reflect, Consolidate and Achieve – booking link coming soon!

With final year exams out of the way, this session is positioned to enable you to take stock of where you are and provide ‘hands-on’ technical skills sessions to graduate with confidence and be who you want to be.