Bright Network

Are career events the best way to secure an internship or graduate role? They’re definitely in the top 3! With September and application season just around the corner, applications for the Bright Network FESTIVAL - the UK’s no.1 student careers event - are now open 🚀 This year, we’re switching it up by splitting the entry times - meaning fewer queues and more time to network 🤝 We’re also taking over the whole of the QEII Centre in the heart of Westminster! Five floors of networking and skill-building spaces, with even more opportunities to win prizes like 1:1 coffee chats with top employers, gift vouchers and CV reviews 🤩 Thank you to all of our employer partners so far, including bp, Clyde & Co, EY, Lloyds Banking Group, Procter & Gamble and PwC. To get an idea of the scale of last year’s event, take a look at the highlights… Applications close soon - secure your spot via the link in the comments. #NetworkingEvents #StudentEvents #Skillbuilding

Want to gain invaluable coding skills this summer and walk away with your own handmade website, connections with leading technologists working at top brands and a brand new career path unlocked? Then we’ve got just the thing for you...we’ve teamed up with Amazon and HSBC to bring you Couch to Coder, the summer coding camp that will take you from beginner to confident coder in just five weeks. Don’t miss out - applications are closing tonight! This is the perfect course for all students and graduates who want to learn the fundamentals of coding and software development 🤖 You can expect: 🧑💻 Weekly sessions created by an expert Bright Network tech trainer and practical tasks to complete 🎤 An exclusive insights week in the final week of the course, where you’ll get to hear the experiences and advice of leading technologists working at top brands 🚀 A chance to gain valuable new skills, learn the possibilities of a career in tech and walk away with your very own website No matter whether you dream of a career in tech or simply want to upskill and explore the world of coding, Couch to Coder will help you build the solid foundational skills you need to kickstart your next step. Applications close at midnight – submit yours before it’s too late. Link in the comments.

The riots and attacks against minority groups in recent days have been heart breaking. Bright Network is dedicated to being a welcoming and safe community for all students and graduates. We fully condemn violence and hate speech in all forms and stand by our members and partners regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, or what country you come from. We're thinking of you and hope that you are able to stay safe. The Bright Network Team 🧡

Are you a society committee member looking to take your society to new levels of success? 🚀 Good news! We’re on the lookout for societies across the UK to become Bright Network Society Partners. As part of the partnership you’ll unlock all sorts of benefits, including access to: 💰 Bright Network sponsorship – get reimbursed when you bring new members to us through our referral programme 📅 Bespoke society events – from networking events to termly webinars with top employers 🗞️ Monthly newsletters – jam-packed with content, advice and opportunities to hear from our employer partners 🤝 A society LinkedIn group – giving you the opportunity to network with likeminded society leaders We know that as a society committee leader you’ll be eager to create change, lead your society to success and boost your profile, which is exactly why we want to be here to support and empower you as your partner! Submit your application today to be considered: https://lnkd.in/ewsTuX7Z Plus, if you’re a society president or co-president, we’d love to see you at our exclusive Presidents’ Day event taking place on Wednesday 14th August. Spaces are filling up fast, so apply now to avoid missing out: https://lnkd.in/eMGUHEYd 🌟 #Societies #UniversitySocieties #University

Does it feel like there’s a disconnect between your hiring teams and Gen Z? Is rapidly changing tech, perspectives and expectations making it hard to keep up? Are you looking for practical advice to improve the way you attract diverse, bright talent? Our 2024 Illuminate Conference on 26th September will bring together leading voices in our early careers community to spark conversations and share solutions to the challenges we’re all facing – only half of the spaces at this free event are still available! The sessions on the day, delivered by experts in the industry and voices from the Bright Network team, cover a range of themes: 🎤 The intersectional generation and how to keep up 🧠 The mental health crisis in 2024 🤖 An employer brand for the AI-enabled generation 💭 Are your expectations of Gen Z good for business? 📚 The Gen Z skillset 🌟 Practical steps towards neuro-inclusion 👩🔬 The STEM talent gap 🚀 Building a diverse and inclusive workforce We would absolutely love to see you there. If you spot any sessions that your colleagues would be interested in attending, feel free to invite them along too. Reserve your free space now: https://lnkd.in/eRqMWXjD Please note: This event is designed for those working in the early careers space, not for students. #IC2024 #Illuminate #EarlyCareers #DiversityAndInclusion

Calling all students and graduates looking to gain new skills this summer... 💻 🤖 We’re thrilled to launch our second edition of Couch to Coder, the free course that takes you from beginner to confident coder in just five weeks! Couch to Coder is the perfect course for all students and graduates who want to learn the fundamentals of coding and software development. You can expect: 🤖 Weekly sessions created by an expert Bright Network tech trainer and practical tasks to complete 🤖 An exclusive insights week in the final week of the course, where you’ll get to hear the experiences and advice of leading technologists working at top brands 🤖 A chance to gain valuable new skills, learn the possibilities of a career in tech and walk away with your very own website No matter whether you dream of a career in tech or simply want to upskill and explore the world of coding, Couch to Coder will help you build the solid foundational skills you need to kickstart your next step. Spaces are limited – submit your application as soon as possible before 7th August: https://lnkd.in/d_ZeDmp8 #CouchtoCoder #TechSkills #CodingSkills #TechCareers

Connecting over 16,000 students with industry-leading employers 🚀 Last week, we concluded the 5th edition of Internship Experience UK, introducing over 16,000 students and recent graduates to some of the most competitive sectors to kickstart their careers. We were joined by stellar employers, including: British Airways on the Business, Operations & Marketing stream Clyde & Co on Commercial Law PwC on Finance, Professional Services & Consulting BT Group on Technology With 4 days to complete the experience, our members got to: 🧠 Take part in interactive skill-building workshops and gain industry insights in Sector 101 sessions 🤝 Network with employer representatives and Bright Network alumni 📝 Complete a work sample to get an idea of the type of work they’d do as graduates Huge congratulations to all of our incredible members who took part - we’ve loved seeing you post your certificates on LinkedIn! A massive thank you to all of our brilliant employer partners:  Adobe, AlphaSights, Ark, Baillie Gifford, BCLP, Bloomberg, British Airways, BT Group, Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I, Clyde & Co, CrowdStrike, Deloitte, EY, Forvis Mazars Group, HSBC, IBM Consulting d.o.o, ICAEW, Kennedys, KPMG, Lloyds Banking Group, Macfarlanes, Mazars, Mishcon de Reya LLP, Mondelēz International, Nestlé, Osborne Clarke, PA Consulting, Procter & Gamble, PwC, RPC, Telent Technology Services Ltd. If you’re an employer looking to connect with students at our face-to-face and virtual events, or a student hoping to find new networking opportunities this autumn, check out our upcoming events (linked in the comments)!

Pride is a celebration, but it’s also about visibility and awareness in a continued push for equality. This year at Bright Network, we’re committed to supporting this ongoing push, promoting authentic allyship and creating space for LGBTQIA+ voices. We’re doing this in four key ways: 📚 Lunch and Learn: "Queer Eye: The 'state of play' for LGBTQIA+ people in the UK" that will look at the realities of living as LGBTQIA+ in the UK and to understand further how this could be affecting our member community 🎭 Supporting LGBTQIA+ culture: Every employee at Bright Network has been given a budget to spend on media that supports and upholds LGBTQIA+ Voices, from books and galleries, to cinema and theatre 🥤Social: Pride Pub Quiz to wrap up our summer of Pride activities and spend time together celebrating 🏳️🌈 Launching Proud to B: 44% of LGBTQIA+ Bright Network members are confident about securing a graduate role after university, compared to 54% of all Bright Network members. Our 6th annual Proud to B event aims to empower members by providing tailored advice and insight on being their authentic selves How will you be taking action and celebrating Pride in your teams this year? Comment below! ⬇️ #PrideMonth #Inclusion #LGBTQIACommunity

What do German graduates want from their careers? We can tell you. And give you the insights to ensure they choose you as a first choice employer 🔥 💪 That's right, our latest German annual research is here and we've published it in English too, so everyone can access the top tips in this unique report. We had a great time launching it at our EMEA Leads in London strategy roundtable. The discussion on topics around attraction, diversity and onboarding gave real insights into how employer are feeling about the market. A big thanks to Daria Vormfenne and Oliver Wuellenweber from our German office for joining us. 🇩🇪 For all of the insights and top tips, you can download the report here: https://lnkd.in/enY7QZzi

Why are we still talking about social mobility? Because on #SocialMobilityDay2024, the career barriers facing those from low socio-economic backgrounds have still not been removed. One thing remains true: talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. Our recent research highlighted some stark findings: ➡️ Students with two or more social mobility indicators (such as receiving free school meals or attending a state school) have the lowest confidence in securing a graduate role ➡️ 45% of students who feel their background has hindered them in their career journey specify their socioeconomic background as something that holds them back ➡️ Only 34% of students with three social mobility indictors think the graduate job marketplace is inclusive (compared to 44% for all respondents) ➡️ Students from state schools are expecting a graduate salary of £28.2k, whereas their private school counterparts are expecting £30.6k These stats only scratch the surface of how social mobility is affecting the confidence and career concerns of bright emerging talent across the UK. On our mission to connect the next generation with the opportunities, insights and advice to succeed as the workforce of tomorrow, we are striving to create a graduate marketplace where students from all backgrounds can reach their potential. We are committed to continuing our work to level the playing field for the next generation by connecting them with the opportunities they may not have had access to otherwise, along with our dedicated employer partners. We'll also continue to use our platform to #ShareMoments that spread further awareness for the importance of talking about social mobility. #SocialMobilityDay2024 #SocialMobility #ShareMoments