University launches programme to connect postgraduate talent with regional employers
Birmingham City University has launched a speed networking event that brings together regional employers and highly skilled postgraduate researchers from Global Majority backgrounds.
The event, named as ‘The Talent Xchange’ is a unique opportunity to discover fresh talent, promote inclusive hiring, and strengthen an organisation’s connections to the next generation of innovators, researchers, and changemakers.
It will take place on Tuesday, 30 September from 10 am to 2 pm at The Old Library, Zellig, Gibb Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B9 4AT.
Global Majority refers to people who are black, Asian, brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and/or have been racialised as 'ethnic minorities’.
This event forms part of That’s Me! Eliminating Barriers to Postgraduate Research Study in the West Midlands - a project funded by Research England and the Office for Students as part of a national programme to widen access to postgraduate research.
The project is co-led by Birmingham City University and the University of Wolverhampton, with a range of employers represented on the project’s Employer Board.
A core focus of That’s Me! is to connect Global Majority postgraduate researchers with regional employers to help cultivate a more diverse, vibrant, and inclusive workforce across the Midlands and beyond.
The event will feature representatives from a wide range of sectors - including business, education, law, health, technology, the arts, and community development.
Highlights include:
- Speed networking sprints for one-to-one conversations
- CV review stations and employer engagement stands
- Focused group discussions
- Informal networking spaces over refreshments and lunch
By attending the event, people can connect directly with a diverse pool of talented postgraduate researchers, gain fresh insights from individuals with specialist academic and professional expertise, showcase organisations’ commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion while exploring collaborative and recruitment opportunities.
Dr Kamaira Jones, employer engagement officer of the That's Me! Project said: “BCU is reaching beyond our campuses to connect with West Midlands employers and businesses.
“We’re offering a unique speed networking event to give employers an opportunity to engage with a diverse pool of emerging talent from the Global Majority postgraduate research community.
“BCU researchers can offer fresh perspectives and specialist knowledge to help find solutions to industry and real-world challenges.
“We’re creating a space to showcase your organisation’s opportunities and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.”
Picture credits: BCU
