Boosting employability
By: Emma Wigmore
Last updated: Saturday, 5 April 2025
Dr Andrew Morgan
“One of the highlights of a Sussex education that I benefited from was the opportunity to learn things that are part of a more rounded education.”
Our Careers, Employability and Entrepreneurship programmes are designed to give students the skills, confidence, and experience they need to thrive in today’s competitive job market.
The University provides students with opportunities to gain work experience tailored to their year of study. One standout initiative is the Student Consultancy programme, where students take on real-world projects for external organisations. These focus on how a company is meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, such as reviewing sustainability practices, community outreach, and analysing trends.
Students benefit from working with a variety of organisations—including local charities, NGOs, startups, and even global companies like Capgemini, which has shared its consulting expertise exclusively with Sussex students.
Through the programme, participants gain key skills, including project management, teamwork, and presentation skills. They learn how to showcase their experience on their CVs and in job interviews. Importantly, all our internships are paid at the UK living wage to ensure equal access. Undergraduate students from all backgrounds can apply, with priority given to underrepresented groups.
A recent generous donation from alumnus Dr Andrew Morgan (BIOLS, 1979) has significantly bolstered our Student Consultancy provision. Reflecting on what compelled him to make his gift, Dr. Morgan shared:
“One of the highlights of a Sussex education that I benefited from was the opportunity to learn things that are adjacent to or even distant from one’s main subject, as part of a more rounded education. I gained so much from my time at Sussex that I wanted to support the current generation of students so that they could also benefit from a valuable learning experience beyond their core subject. The Student Consultancy programme is just that.”
We hope that we can continue to expand our Student Consultancy offering, as Emily Huns, Head of Careers, Employability and Entrepreneurship, explains:
“The Student Consultancy provides paid opportunities to our students whilst helping employers to address live challenges that frequently relate to the University’s goals.
“We’re proud of the scheme’s success and are working with faculty colleagues to embed the model into several academic courses in ways that help deepen and contextualise subject knowledge. Our vision is for all Sussex students to have this opportunity.”
Thank you to all our alumni who not only positively influence the career prospects of Sussex graduates but allow them to thrive and achieve professional success.