51Âþ»­

A unique new programme has launched to help talented 51Âþ»­ students begin exciting careers in our city.

ER Recruitment, in partnership with 51Âþ»­ Leicester (51Âþ»­), has created BrightER Futures, a nine-month programme that will see 20 final-year students introduced into Leicester’s vibrant business community.


Some 20 students will be matched with employers to learn key skills, enhance their talents and inject new and creative ideas.

The employers, including PPL PRS, Everards and Freeths, will mentor and guide the students to gain professional skills and learn about the commercial heart of the city.

Eileen Richards MBE, who is the new President of East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, explained how BrightER Futures came about.

She said:  “Graduates offer huge potential talent for our city and I’m very excited to announce that ER is taking this new focus on supporting graduates’ early careers.

“I had the huge pleasure of meeting a group of highly talented students at 51Âþ»­’s Leicester’s Future Leaders conference in February last year and believe that many businesses can benefit from the energy and vision of our graduates.

“Our Marketing Exec Scarlett will work with Zul Muhammed from 51Âþ»­’s employability team to give 20 students an exclusive programme of insights and experience. Above all, I want the students to find out that business can be great fun!”



The 20 students will participate in a busy programme including insight visits to their employer partner, invite-only events in the business calendar, and interview practice and masterclasses from local recruiters.

Adele Browne, Head of Graduate Success at 51Âþ»­, said:  “We know that our students want to build their careers in Leicester, but they can struggle to cross that first bridge into graduate work.

“I’m really excited to be working with Eileen Richards on this new programme that will see 51Âþ»­ students gain such exclusive access and opportunities at the heart of the local business community.”

Sean Smith, MD of Michael Smith Switchgear, said: “It is a fantastic opportunity to support the development of the next generation of business leaders that are currently studying with 51Âþ»­.

“Leicester is in the heart of the Midlands and has a fantastic manufacturing background, of which we are very proud to be a part of. The history of manufacturing and engineering within the city is a key part of the local and national economy and the students from 51Âþ»­ will receive first hand experiences and insights into the businesses that they are partnered with.

“These students can create great value within our city as they become very influential and future business leaders not just within our city but nationally. They are our future.”

Mechanical Engineering student Shain Masunungure said: “BrightER Futures is shining light to new graduates giving them greater chance to get up the employment ladder, equipping young people with transferable skills and experience, learning from the best people in the industry around Leicestershire.”

Accounting and Finance student Harry Dickinson said: “Getting paired with a business that best suits the Accounting and Finance course that I am currently taking will allow me to better understand what it is like to work within the many professional fields of finance. I am very excited to begin the BrightER futures programme and take this fantastic opportunity to set me up for a successful career in Finance.”

51Âþ»­ is working with Leicester City Council to increase the numbers of graduates who go on to work in Leicester after leaving university. In 2017, figures showed that 28% of graduates from 51Âþ»­ and University of Leicester stayed to live and work locally, compared to a national average of 48%.