Aston University: Aston University wins ‘best university placement team’ in national awards

The Careers and Placements team at Aston University has been voted ‘best university placement team’ in the National University Employability (NUE) Awards 2022.

This award celebrates the contributions made by a university placement service in the UK which has gone above and beyond to support their students to apply and maximise their work experience opportunities.

The Aston University team won the award for the way they adapted to the virtual world during the pandemic, launching Virtual Employability Festivals, with 2,000 students engaged with mock interviews, insight sessions and webinars.

In addition, recognising the power of peer-to-peer communication, the team worked with the Learner Development Centre to pair 500 students looking for placements with 500 students who had completed placements.

The team picked up the award at a ceremony held at etc.venues in London on Friday 4 March.

The NUE Awards, organised by RateMyPlacement.co.uk, celebrate excellence in undergraduate employability. They were first started 13 years ago to identify and recognise those who are making a real difference in the industry, and to the lives of undergraduates across the UK.

The panel of NUE Awards judges commented:

“With employability embedded into 80% of subjects in the curriculum through their incredible relationships with academic staff, the university-wide commitment to employability sets the benchmark and this dedication has enabled the service to place 1600 students on placement this year.”

Lucy Holder, deputy head of placements at Aston University, said:

“Attending the awards ceremony was an amazing experience and it’s great to have the team’s efforts recognised in this way.”