Careers Network Service: Access Statement

We aim to support students preparing to start studying at University of Birmingham, all those who are current students regardless of their programme of study, and former students of the University.

We offer a range of services that includes digital resources, advice and guidance, employer events and fairs, access to work experience and job opportunities, and a wide range of employability programmes. We aim to tailor our provision according to your needs.

Careers Network services are delivered in-house by our dedicated team who support our Birmingham and Dubai campus students. Our Business School students are supported by a dedicated Birmingham Business School careers team, offering in-house support to all programmes delivered by the Business School. Our Dubai based students can also access in country careers support. The University is not part of any combined service.

All services - Careers Network website

Registered students of University of Birmingham

Undergraduates

Access to all service: Yes

Additional support

  • Students from underrepresented groups will have access to bespoke employability programmes and tailored support, for example the Birmingham Scholar programme

  • Students in the Birmingham Business School (BBS) also have access to careers support through a dedicated BBS careers team

Postgraduates taught

Access to all service: Yes*

Additional support

  • Postgraduate students also have access to careers support through a dedicated Postgraduate careers team

  • Students in the Birmingham Business School also have access to careers support through a dedicated BBS careers team

  • *Postgraduate taught students – currently have no access to mentoring however this is under review

Overseas campuses

Access to all service: Yes*

Additional support

  • *access to all online services

  • University of Birmingham students studying in Dubai also have access to tailored careers support through a dedicated Dubai student support team

  • University of Birmingham students studying in Jinan and Singapore also have access to tailored careers support through dedicated careers staff

Foundation students enrolled on Birmingham International Academy (BIA) programmes, or a UoB registered foundation student studying elsewhere

Access to all service: Yes

Additional support

  • Foundation students can also access tailored careers sessions when pre-arranged by the Programme Lead

University of Birmingham Apprentices

Service variation

  • Access to online services
  • Apprentices can also access tailored careers sessions and guidance services if appropriate, and when pre-arranged by the Programme Lead

University of Birmingham Bootcamps

Service variation

  • Access to online services
  • Bootcamp adult learners can also access careers sessions and guidance services
  • After course completion, bootcamp adult learners can access careers sessions and guidance services for up to 12 months

Former students of University of Birmingham

Recent graduates

Access to all service: Yes

Additional support

  • Recent graduates have access to an enhanced graduate support programme that includes progression coaching and UoB graduate internships

Students who return after an Exchange Programme

Access to all service: Yes

Service variation

  • Access to careers advice and guidance services are available up to one year after culmination

Students who take a break from their studies

Access to all service: Yes

Service variation

  • Access to careers advice and guidance services are available up to one year after culmination

University of Birmingham alumni

Service variation

  • Careers Network services are tailored to current students and recent graduates. UoB alumni can get assistance with general careers advice and guidance and some online services. Specialist support for careers professionals, career changers, and the long term unemployed is not available.
  • UoB alumni benefit from a range of alternative support from University Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO).

Alternative provision

Future students of University of Birmingham

Prospective Students (intending to study at UoB within the next 2 years)

Alternative provision

University of Birmingham employees

Academic and Professional Staff

  • Access to CN digital resources: Yes

Alternative provision

Contract researchers

  • Access to CN digital resources: Yes

Alternative provision

Contract researchers can use the services available through People and the Organisational Development (POD) for support, and other tailored resources available through the College Research Board, where applicable.

Other higher education institutions

Students or graduates from UoB partner institutions

  • Access to CN digital resources: Yes

Alternative provision

  • Access to other careers support may occur by contractual arrangement with the University of Birmingham Careers Network department.

Staff in Careers Network

View a list of staff who work across Careers Network and how to contact them.

Impartiality, sustainability and careers

In order to meet the full range of aspirations in our student and graduate body, Careers Network is committed to providing students and graduates with an impartial service to allow them to make their own informed choices through access to employers and professional organisations that meet our terms of advertising. Careers Network’s terms of advertising exist to uphold a duty of care and to ensure that students and graduates have the widest possible range of opportunities that comply with employment law and university regulations.

We support students and graduates to make informed decisions about careers and to discover different routes and pathways which align with their knowledge, attributes, skills and experiences. Impartiality is, therefore, a core component of our work, but we recognise that in some areas Careers Network’s engagement may not always align with an individual’s values or ethics. However, in order to meet the full range of aspirations in our student and graduate body, we will not seek to maintain blanket bans on a particular organisation, industry or geography unless it is covered by broader political scenarios or University policy.

As a member of AGCAS (the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services) our service is underpinned by the AGCAS Code of Ethics. See also AGCAS: HE careers professionals and impartiality.

Sustainability

SRA_Members_Badge_2024Careers Network is a member of the Sustainable Recruitment Alliance, a group of employers and universities who have pledged to take a more eco-friendly approach to early talent recruitment. Information and resources on the environment and sustainability can be seen at Insight into environment and sustainability careers. This is an area of ongoing development, recognising the importance of the growing sector of green jobs and careers. Careers Network further identifies the green credentials of employers registering with its career management system (for the promotion of vacancies and events) by asking a range of questions on employers’ green aims and Net Zero policies. 

Careers Network is also committed to more sustainable events and activities (limited/no paper resources, ethically sourced cotton bags, no plastic giveaways or plastic cups), which is in line with the University’s sustainability agenda and regularly communicated to our employer partners, many of whom are also members of the Sustainable Recruitment Alliance

Preparation of this access statement

This statement was prepared on 29 September 2022. It was last reviewed, and signed off at a senior level, on 12 June 2023.

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Professional Services