Launch of the Grad Support Unit and careers event

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Final year students look forward to the future with launch of the Grad Support Unit and careers event

Students in their final year of study at Bath Spa will be supported far beyond graduation, thanks to the University’s career-focused Grad Support Unit, which was officially launched as part of a careers event earlier this month.

On Wednesday 8 March, final year students attended the Final Year Growth Summit held at the University’s Locksbrook Campus. The evening was hosted by its Careers and Employability Team and was designed to help attendees prepare for life after university, while also providing a launchpad for the Grad Support Unit for the class of 2023.

The Grad Support Unit has been created with final year students in mind, to help them keep up to date with career opportunities, and make the most of the connections they have built at university. 

In addition to explaining the benefits of the new network, the event also offered interactive workshops on owning your creative identity, overcoming imposter syndrome and balancing your career and mental health, as well as expert advice from graduates, colleagues and employers.

Those in attendance got to hear first-hand from alumni whose careers took somewhat unconventional, ‘squiggly’, paths to get them to where they are today. This insight encouraged existing students to imagine the variety of directions their own experiences could take them in.

Part of helping the soon-to-be graduates to alleviate any uncertainty around their next steps into the world of work came in the form of a keynote speech by Hannah Kemp, Volunteering and Community Manager at the National Trust. Hannah discussed her job role and shared her top tips on preparing for life beyond university.

Speaking on the success of the event, Laura Ingham, Head of Careers and Employability at Bath Spa University said:

“We are delighted to have seen so many students attend the Final Year Growth Summit. Graduating from university is an exciting time, but in an increasingly fast-paced and changing labour market, the range of future options for graduates can be overwhelming. 

“In line with our ‘World of Possibilities’ theme, the Summit showcased alumni stories of squiggly career routes and engaged students in workshops around imposter syndrome, their creative identity and mental health - all topics designed to help graduates navigate their future with confidence.”

Paige Clarkson, Graduate Success Manager at Bath Spa University, added:

“I'm overjoyed at the success of our Final Year Growth Summit. It was a pleasure to be able to inspire final year students to think about their next steps, and to launch our graduate support offer to reassure them that they will still be supported long after they have left Bath Spa.”

To find out more about additional career support available to Bath Spa students, visit the Careers and Employability pages.