This academic year, students from the University of Sussex Business School’s Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) took part in a dynamic series of employer insight visits, designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and gaining career experience.

From finance and insurance to sustainability consulting and social research, these visits offered students a rare opportunity to explore real workplaces, engage with professionals, and gain clarity on career pathways. The initiative aimed to build students’ confidence, enhance their CVs, and support their transition into the professional workplace.

Highlights included:

• First Central (Haywards Heath): Students explored ACCA pathways and commercial finance roles, gaining insight into the day-to-day operations of a finance department. Careers Lead, Lauren Markham said “it was a pleasure to host Sussex students in helping them understand what a career in finance can look like”.

• Hastings Direct (Bexhill): This visit explored graduate schemes and the finance-insurance interface, with valuable input from senior leaders. A Sussex MSc Management and Finance Student gained ‘a clear view of how the finance function works inside a company and the team were approachable and engaging’.
Aimee Streeter, Early Careers Manager, said “it was a fantastic day and we’re looking forward to working with Sussex again.”

• Morelli Consulting (Chichester): A hands-on sustainability and innovation consulting challenge led to two students securing internships. A BSc Business and Management student revealed that they are “even more fascinated by the role of business to address sustainability challenges. This visit has changed how I think about my future.”

• Clarion Communication Systems (Chichester): Students learned about closed-loop supply chains, circular business models and tech logistics. This was an insightful visit for Sussex students as it allowed students to see the “practical side of what we learn in lectures.”

• FDM Group (Brighton): A session on finance operations within a listed company, reviewing annual reports and gained advice from graduates studying for the ACCA, which in turn made students feel that the “ACCA route seemed more accessible.”

• Institute for Employment Studies (Brighton): Economics students explored how social research, informs real-world policy. This experience was an engaging session which got students feeling ‘genuinely interested’. Kate Alexander, IES was pleased to see students “engaged, curious and asking brilliant questions throughout.”

• Meadow Blue Solar Array (Chichester area): SPRU students visited a live 5MW solar site to learn how decentralised, community-led energy systems operate, with topics focusing on finance, policy, biodiversity and infrastructure. A student commented that the visit “showed how clean energy, policy and community investment all work together.”

These visits were made possible through strong partnerships with employers who are committed to nurturing future talent. A big thank you to all the brilliant employers who took the time to host our students and support their career development.

By stepping into professional environments and engaging directly with industry experts, students gained invaluable insight into the realities of the working world — insight that will shape their career decisions for years to come.

This employer programme will run again in 2025 – 2026. We encourage students to keep an eye out for communications regarding these Insight Visits next academic year.