The Careers and Entrepreneurship team with their Graduate Futures Awards trophies

Receiving the awards at the Graduate Futures Institute's awards ceremony in Nottingham

The Sustainable Careers Award and Grand Prix Award trophies

The Careers and Entrepreneurship team at Sussex are delighted to have achieved not one, but two awards – including the overall top prize - at this year’s Graduate Futures Awards ceremony!

The sector’s annual flagship awards ceremony, from the Graduate Futures Institute, took place last week in Nottingham - celebrating the people, teams and projects transforming careers and employability support in higher education across the UK and Ireland.

In recognition of their green changemaker activity, Sussex’s Careers and Entrepreneurship team took home the Sustainable Careers Award and Grand Prix Award (overall institutional winner).

In response to the Sussex 2035 strategy, expanding green sector, and UK green job ads doubling (PwC Green Jobs Barometer), the team have been scaling opportunities and programmes for students to develop green skills, connect with employers, and build confidence in their ability to lead positive change. The Graduate Futures Awards double-win is a landmark recognition of Sussex's green careers programmes, their growing real-world impact, and the team that makes it all happen.

The competitive awards were decided by a panel of 40 judges. Reflecting on Sussex’s double-win, the judges highlighted the Student Consultancy Programme as “an innovative, transformative and scalable model [which] provides demonstrable impact for student employability [...] [supporting] regional employer partners to meet net zero goals and strengthening civic connections in the region.”

Student Consultancy

The fast-growing Student Consultancy Programme (which takes place as an extra-curricular programme, and also within an increasing number of academic modules) has seen 600 students work with 65 employers to produce real-world change. The programme connects students with employers to work on live briefs - from critically analysing public access to marine environments for Sussex Bay, to advising Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club on how to reduce waste.

Many organisations have implemented changes based on our students’ recommendations, such as Ridgeview Wine Estate, who now save 574kg of CO2 emissions annually; and Hastings Direct, who added EV charge-points to office parking areas. Students on the programme are directly contributing to organisational net zero goals - all whilst boosting their own green skills and work experience to help set them apart in the graduate jobs market.

“Student consultancy has had a positive impact on me since graduating,” shared one programme participant. “Working on sustainability goals has shown me how important it is to work for an organisation that cares enough to build a sustainable future for all. I now know what I value in an organisation.”

More green careers support

The team runs a range of additional green careers activities for students and recent graduates, including:

• Career Lab UK Summer Internships: many of our paid internships, which are exclusive to Sussex students, relate to sustainability. Our funded interns work with environmental organisations, or on sustainability-focussed projects, at organisations including Shoreham Port, Knepp Wildland Foundation, Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival, Sussex Wildlife Trust, Tech-Takeback, and Brighton & Hove City Council.
• Green Futures: our annual Green Futures event inspires students from all degree backgrounds to kickstart their sustainability career; bringing together students, employers, and notable alumni for inspiring panels, interactive challenges, opportunities and networking.
• Changemaker Challenge: we are proud that our Entrepreneurship programmes over the years have supported many sustainability-focussed startups. This year, we also launched the inaugural Changemaker Challenge – an additional opportunity for students to access funding for an environmental or social impact project to benefit our local community.

Emily Huns, Head of Careers and Entrepreneurship, said: “We’re extremely proud of these awards, which recognise the impact of our green changemaker programmes on students and employers. We’re looking to scale further, to give more and more students the opportunity to build green skills and meaningful work experience. These programmes are great examples of the University’s commitment to driving positive change.”

“We are delighted that the Student Consultancy Programme has been recognised at the Graduate Futures Awards," added Jasmin Tse, Programmes Officer. "The programme brings students together from multiple disciplines, and gives them an opportunity to share their knowledge and skills from their degree and beyond. Employers genuinely recognise and act on the innovative ideas contributed by students, and I'm always impressed by students' willingness to collaborate and offer solutions. We welcome organisations to get in touch if they would like to connect with our students and get involved in the programme.”

About Careers and Entrepreneurship at Sussex

Our award-winning Careers and Entrepreneurship team are here to support you throughout your studies, and for three years after you graduate.

Our tailored support includes:

• Access to vacancies and resources on CareerHub
• One-to-one appointments with careers and entrepreneurship consultants
• Year-round Events including careers fairs, Green Futures, and sector-specific events
• Career Lab work experience opportunities including student consultancy and internships
• Entrepreneurship programmes and funding opportunities,
• Support in applying and embarking on a Placement

Learn more about Careers and Entrepreneurship on the Student Hub.

Further information: https://student.sussex.ac.uk/careers/

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