The major challenges facing organisations today demand forward-thinking solutions and a bold approach.
2,500 £100m
Over 2500 projects with partners each year
Over £100m value generated in 2023/24 to support innovation with our partners
Together, we can create the solutions you need to succeed.
Whether you recruit a graduate once, or you recruit thousands every year, we are here to support you. Our Employer Engagement & Student Employment Team, part of Student Employability and Academic Success, known to our students and graduates as Career Zone, can offer you a variety of activities and events that can help to promote your brand on campus.
Our dedicated team will discuss your requirements and are keen to provide you with a solution to your recruitment needs. Not only can we help you reach our students and graduates, we also welcome employers and professionals to engage with us to deliver activities to help develop our students’ employability skills.
Here at Exeter, we use a dedicated careers platform called Handshake to support both students and employers. As a business you can use Handshake to advertise jobs, book events and fairs, and to reach out to students and graduates.
You can use Handshake to promote graduate vacancies, internships and placements, in the UK or around the world for free.
Vacancies will be visible to all current Exeter students (undergraduate and post-graduate) and to University of Exeter alumni.
Once you have registered and requested a connection with us through Handshake, we will review your request and you’ll be able to upload your vacancies. Every vacancy is reviewed by a member of staff before going live.
Businesses can recruit current students into part-time roles through the Student Business Partnership Scheme. Our Graduate Business Partnership Scheme supports businesses to recruit graduates who have qualified in the last 3 years. The Internships Team will advertise and promote your opportunity through a managed application process.
With the support of the Internships Team you can:
• Connect with university students by offering paid employment opportunities
• Connect with final year students and recent graduates from all UK universities by offering early career employment opportunities
• Offer a challenging role that will support your business and help you to get on top of projects and tasks
• Provide an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge in a professional role alongside their studies or as a first job
• Raise awareness of your brand to the workforce of the future
Internships provide a valuable experience that connects talented students with employers for mutual benefit.
The Graduate Business Partnership includes many benefits to encourage graduates to stay or relocate to the southwest to start their careers. Our aim is to showcase employers in the southwest to retain and attract individuals with the skills our region needs.
A member of the Internships Team can meet you for an informal chat to learn more about your needs and provide guidance. You can contact the team at internships@exeter.ac.uk or call 01392 722617. Phone lines are monitored 9am5pm, Monday-Friday.
The University’s Career Mentor Scheme was launched 16 years ago and has grown to become one of the largest and most successful employability schemes in the UK. In 2023, the scheme was a finalist in the Exeter Living Awards education category.
Mentoring is a rewarding practice where you can share your experience and expertise to benefit a student or recent graduate. Perhaps you were once in their shoes? You don’t need to have attended university to become a mentor, but you must have at least three years of industry experience and a passion for your work.
Our mentors are made up of working and retired professionals as well as Exeter alums who are based locally and all over the world. To register your interest in becoming a mentor, please complete the Expression of Interest Form, and a team member will contact you to go through the next steps.
Work placements are part of creditbearing modules that students undertake as part of their degree programme. These are different from internships, which are taken as extracurricular, i.e., outside of the degree.
Placements are a fantastic opportunity for employers to reap the many rewards of recruiting one of our students. They can be offered on a full- or part-time basis as part of short-term or year-long placement programmes. Students are looking for employers across a diverse range of sectors and are interested in a variety of different roles.
If you have a project or job vacancy that you feel could make a good student placement, then get in contact via placements@exeter.ac.uk.
Our Employer Engagement & Student Employment Team allows businesses to attend several large-scale Careers Fairs held at our Exeter and Penryn, Cornwall, Campuses.
In addition, we work with dozens of businesses each year to create and deliver events designed to facilitate access to our students, whether through a presentation, skills session or networking event. These can take place on campus or virtually to meet your needs as a business.
With many years of expertise in organising and delivering events, from bespoke smaller events to Careers Fairs that accommodate up to 90 businesses, we can support you. To find out more or to set up a call to discuss further, contact employer-events@exeter.ac.uk.
The GSC is an online challenge presented in collaboration with business schools from around the world. During the 3-day challenge, the MBA cohorts collaborate on seeking solutions to a sustainability-focused issue and then present their findings and recommendations to the corporate partner that posed the challenge.
Corporate partners are invited to collaborate with The Exeter MBA’s dedicated Careers and Employability Consultant on matters relating to advertising positions to current students, connecting with MBA alumni, and participating in employer visits and showcases.
For more information about The Exeter MBA and engagement opportunities, please email Jorandi Scholtz at j.scholtz@exeter.ac.uk.
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We are the largest provider of Degree Apprenticeships in the Russell Group
400+
Since 2016 we have partnered with over 400+ leading businesses
80.7%
University apprentice achievement rate (National Average 54.6%)
Degree Apprenticeships are an innovative and cost-effective means of attracting, training and retaining high-calibre employees and graduates to your business. Offering clear progression routes and opportunities for existing employees and those wishing to upskill and climb the career ladder, apprenticeships enable professionals access to higher-level skills and qualifications for whom full-time study is impractical.
With a reputation for unwavering excellence and reliability, the University of Exeter has a remarkable track record in successfully delivering Degree Apprenticeships. Since 2016, we’ve been working in collaboration with hundreds of employers to deliver industryapproved programmes that meet specific business needs and fill skill gaps within their sectors. We provide ongoing support and unique opportunities to shape the development of your nextgeneration employees and the upskilling of your current staff.
Degree Apprenticeships enable employers to address a challenging labour market, increased staff turnover, organisational restructuring, and skills shortages.
Existing staff members can use apprenticeships to develop in new areas
Build valuable connections
Apprenticeships can attract new talent to your organisation
Loyalty by developing talent
Through government apprenticeship levy or co-investment, apprentices will earn their salary whilst gaining a tuition-fee free degree
Click here to learn more about the Degree Apprenticeships we offer and how they could benefit your business.
For organisations and individuals looking to extend their knowledge of the Circular Economy to create and deliver commercial benefits.
Introduce Circular Economy principles into your organisation and develop an understanding of value creation, capture and scaling and the capabilities required at different stages.
Gain practical advice on how to overcome barriers and make the case for change.
Duration 6 weeks (36 hours) / Fees
£1750 – If you are part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation network, please get in touch with your primary contact for registration options. More information is available here.
For organisations and individuals looking to extend their knowledge of the Circular Economy to create and deliver commercial benefits.
Introduce Circular Economy principles into your organisation and develop an understanding of value creation, capture and scaling and the capabilities required at different stages. Gain practical advice on how to overcome barriers and make the case for change.
Duration 6 weeks (36 hours) / Fees
£1750 If you are part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation network, please get in touch with your primary contact for registration options. More information is available here.
Supporting established leaders to thrive in an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world.
Based in our ‘4P’ (Performance, People, Progress, Principle) model for leadership, this programme offers research-guided insights to develop the knowledge, skills and perspectives needed to navigate a changing and complex work environment.
Participants will build a deep understanding of leadership behaviours, personal values and vision, and acquire a practical toolkit to directly apply new knowledge in the workplace.
Duration 6 weeks (36 hours) / Fees £1,950 More information is available here.
For Business Leaders wishing to focus on how people, businesses, and nature can prosper together.
Join us to find out how you, your team, and your organisation can help nature recover, and how incorporating nature into your strategy can improve your bottom line.
Duration 3 days / Fees £4800 including lunches, evening meals and all activities, excluding accommodation
More information is available here.
Practical training for senior managers of small and medium-sized businesses accredited by the Small Business Charter.
Participants can take this programme alongside full-time work and will develop a Growth Action Plan Uniquely tailored to help lead and grow business.
This programme is designed to build your leadership, innovation, digital adoption, employee engagement, marketing, responsible business, and financial management capabilities.
Duration 12 weeks (32 hours plus mentoring) / Fees £750
More information is available here.
For organisations and individuals aiming to deepen their understanding of the concepts and science underpinning nature positivity, and put their ideas into action, to create and deliver commercial benefits and drive nature positive impact.
This course covers topics related to environmental sustainability, sustainable business practices, and effective leadership for a changing world.
Duration 6 weeks (12 hours) / Fees £1950
More information is available here.
Forge valuable connections with the University and partner organisations
Bookable appointments with experts, advisors and support providers
Regular events with partner organisations
Support tailored to your organisations goals
Diverse networking opportunities
Conveniently based in the heart of Exeter
Develop, grow and scale the impact of your venture with tailored support from the Exeter Innovation Accelerator. The programme supports high tech ventures to achieve accelerated growth via expert business support.
The programme is open to start-ups and SMEs from any industry that can evidence their STEMM innovation Develop, grow and scale the impact of your venture with tailored support from the Exeter Innovation Accelerator.
The programme supports high tech ventures to achieve accelerated growth via expert business support. The programme is open to start-ups and SMEs from any industry that can evidence their STEMM innovation credentials and a scalable business model, and will provide access to vital knowledge, networks, and investment opportunities.
Our world-leading accelerator programme boosts opportunities for participants by enabling strategic empowerment through the delivery of workshops, seminars, and drop-in surgeries.
Our team of experienced business support managers, regional professional services Advisors in Residence, accomplished Entrepreneurs in Residence, and knowledge coaches and mentors deliver this structured programme over a 6–12-month period, providing participants with expert support during their growth journey.
The programme covers all aspects of organisational growth, including business fundamentals, sustainable and scalable product development, and finding and managing investment.
Full access to the programme and all its resources is £150 pcm ex VAT. More information is available here.
As a world-leading research institution, we power transformative change by translating our research and education into real world impact.
We have a strong track record in working with partners both on commissioned research projects to address a specific business need or innovation, and on collaborative Government funded research projects.
Organisations partner with us on large scale research collaborations funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Research England to explore the biggest challenges facing organisations and industry today and in the future.
Innovate UK is the UK’s national innovation agency. It provides Government funding to businesses and research organisations across the
UK, primarily through grant funding competitions that encourage businesses to work with other commercial and research organisations. We partner with businesses to provide research expertise for Innovate UK bids.
Through its core grant funding, Innovate UK supports a wide range of businesses and ideas needed to maximise economic growth and societal impact across the country.
Our sector experts in Exeter Innovation can match your R&D needs to an academic expert and work with you to develop research proposals and applications. If you are interested in exploring opportunities to collaborate on a research bid, or directly commissioning a piece of research, please contact innovation@exeter.ac.uk
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) give your organisation the opportunity to access new expertise, develop new products and services, and unlock industry-leading solutions – all at a reduced cost.
Facilitated by a high-calibre graduate who transfers expertise from our academics to your organisation, KTPs are perfect when an organisation is looking to innovate but can’t acquire the necessary skills, know-how or expertise through recruitment or consultancy alone. KTPs are sponsored by Innovate UK, who can fund between 50-75% of the costs.
We have a successful track record in KTPs, having delivered over 100 projects to partner organisations, enabling them to access our worldleading expertise.
More information about KTP’s is available here. Alternatively, please email Sophie O’Callaghan s.v.g.ocallaghan@exeter.ac.uk or Laura Buchanan l.s.buchanan2@exeter.ac.uk.
We are the leading Knowledge Base partner for KTPs in Southwest England, with a 95% KTP funding success rate
We have successfully delivered over 100 KTPs – with 85% KTPs rated ‘outstanding’ or ‘good’
National KTP Award winners for ‘Business Impact and Transformation’ and ‘Technical Excellence’ (2022)
An Industrial Studentship is a form of doctoral funding awarded to a student, often a recent graduate or a company employee. It is a collaborative research partnership between an industry partner, the University of Exeter and a Postgraduate Research (PhD) student. The funding for the studentship is attached to a specific project determined by the industry partner.
What are the benefits to the industry?
• The postgraduate student researches a challenge directly relating to the needs of the industry partner
• Access to the knowledge and expertise of university staff, students and facilities
• In-depth insight allowing you to develop and innovate your organisation
• Develop new and existing relationships and enhance the impact of research
• Recruitment opportunity following completion of the project.
What’s the cost?
• The total cost of delivering a full-time 3-4 year Industrial Studentship varies but typically costs between £115£140k for a UK student and £180£240k for an international student.
• We will work with you to arrange a payment schedule that works with your company.
What are the timescales?
• A full-time Industrial Studentship lasts 36, 42 or 48 Months, depending on the project scope and the needs of the organisation.
• Industrial Studentships can be arranged as part-time with any FTE between 0.5 and 1 FTE. Part-time study will extend the period of the studentship.
To find out more, please contact Kath Maby via: industrialstudentships@exeter.ac.uk.
Collaborative Working Positions are staffing arrangements between the University and a partner that support knowledge exchange, drive innovation and accelerate impact. They are an effective way to strengthen ties between the University and our external partners, creating opportunities for staff from both organisations to access specialist equipment, technology and datasets, leading to increased levels of industrial and collaborative income.
We offer a variety of Collaborative Working Positions that can be created and tailored to fit your requirements, the intended activity and budget.
To find out more, please contact: corporate-partnerships@exeter.ac.uk
Green Futures Solutions is the University of Exeter’s business support initiative to create a greener future, bringing expertise and insights from leading climate researchers to organisations around the world.
Home to over 1,500 academics and environmental specialists (including 5 of the world’s top 21 climate scientists), we can help you access an exceptional range of expertise – from climate risk, natural capital and biodiversity to circular economy, life-cycle assessment and critical minerals.
Bridging the gap between climate science and business needs, Green Futures Solutions gives you the opportunity to tackle complex sustainability challenges, develop impactful solutions, and deliver sector-leading climate action.
More information about Green Futures Solutions is available here.
At the heart of our collaborative approach are three research-informed solutions:
Build climate resilience and lead change
Seize the opportunities for green growth
Responsible use of natural resources so people and nature can thrive
University of Exeter’s Research Facilities combine complex technological infrastructures and associated specialised expertise. We have a range of excellent Research Facilities available for commercial use across our campuses in Devon and Cornwall, spanning from emergent shared resources to large formalised cutting-edge research facilities such as the Centre for Cytomics, Aquatic Resources Centre, V.Simulators, and our Sequencing and Imaging Centres.
We understand that the pursuit of innovation and advancement in various fields is not just an academic endeavour but a commercial imperative. Our state-of-the-art Research Facilities, situated across our campuses in Devon and Cornwall, present a unique commercial opportunity for external partners. These Research Facilities are not just centres of academic research but hubs of innovation and technological excellence that can drive real-world applications and commercial success.
1. Cutting-Edge Technology: Our Research Facilities are equipped with the latest technologies. This provides an unparalleled opportunity for businesses to leverage advanced tools and methodologies that may otherwise be inaccessible.
2. Expertise and Collaboration: Collaboration with our research teams offers access to a wealth of specialised knowledge and expertise. This collaboration can fuel innovation, enhance research and development efforts, and lead to ground-breaking discoveries
3. Customised Solutions: We understand that every commercial endeavour has unique needs. Our facilities offer the flexibility to tailor research and development activities to meet specific commercial objectives, whether it’s in biotechnology, environmental sciences, digital simulation, or beyond.
4. Accelerated Innovation: By utilising our Research Facilities, external partners can significantly shorten their research and development cycles. This acceleration is key in today’s fast-paced market, where getting ahead of the competition is crucial.
5. Networking and Visibility: Engaging our research community opens doors to networking with leading academics, industry experts, and potential collaborators. This can enhance visibility in the relevant research community and beyond.
Our Research Facilities are gateways to innovation and commercial success. Whether you’re a startup looking to develop a new technology, an established corporation seeking to enhance your R&D capabilities, or a research organization aiming to translate academic research into commercial applications, the University of Exeter’s Research Facilities are your ideal partner.
We invite you to explore how our facilities can be a catalyst for your commercial success. For more information and to discuss how we can support your objectives, please contact us at researchfacilities@exeter.ac.uk.
Our state of the art Medical Imaging Centre (MIC) is a research centre based on the St Lukes Campus in Exeter. The MIC is available for commercial use and organisations can hire our imaging equipment, and access experienced staff, to assist them with their commercial, industrial and research interests.
Our introductory video provides information on the equipment, services and collaboration opportunities available for you to access.
For more information on how the Medical Imaging Centre can support you to meet your objectives, please contact:
Email: MI-Centre@exeter.ac.uk Telephone: 01392 722511
Event Exeter is responsible for the portfolio of unique venues that span the stunning green campuses at the University. Working in collaboration with our team of talented in-house chefs enables us to offer the whole package, from initial enquiry to execution of the event.
The diversity of our spaces facilitates a consistent delivery of high-quality and professional corporate events. From technology-rich lecture theatres to elegant Italianate mansions, our venue portfolio offers something unique for all. Nestled amidst 300 acres of greenery, our outdoor spaces also provide an extra dimension to all manner of events.
Whether you are planning a large residential conference for over 1,000 delegates or a gala dinner for 400, the team at Event Exeter will work with you every step of the way to ensure your bespoke event is a success.
To learn more about our venues and event delivery, contact a member of the Event Exeter team on 0300 555 0214 or email eventexeter@exeter.ac.uk, quoting Exeter Innovation.
A monthly newsletter showcasing local skills initiatives and opportunities.
To subscribe, contact Andy Dean at a.dean@exeter.ac.uk.
A quarterly newsletter celebrating stories from across the University, featuring our work with community partners, local businesses, and worldleading research, showcasing the University’s relationships across the South West.
To subscribe, contact: regionalteam@exeter.ac.uk.
A quarterly newsletter providing news and updates relating to our commercially available Research Facilities. Amongst others, areas of interest include fields as varied as biosciences and medicine to engineering, physical sciences, and digital research.
To subscribe, click here.
A monthly newsletter about postgraduate and CPD opportunities aimed at medical and healthcare professionals, including the latest research news and events.
To subscribe, click here.
The CEO network is open to Chief Executives from public, private and third-sector organisations based across the Southwest.
Facilitated by the Business School, the CEO network connects senior leaders with the latest leadership and management research within the Business School through a range of inperson and online events.
The network helps to connect CEOs with the different programmes and initiatives available through the Business School and provides a confidential networking space for CEOs to share their leadership challenges.
For more information on how to connect with the CEO network, please contact ceo-network@exeter.ac.uk.
The Green Futures Network is a free way for any organisation – businesses, community groups, local government, charities – to access up-to-date environmental information, from cutting-edge research to brand new resources, and contribute to collective approaches to the emerging climate and ecological emergencies and the changes they are bringing.
Join the network for free and access events, resources, updates, communities of practice and more.
The Research Networks bring together our researchers and external partners to tackle pressing societal challenges. They offer the opportunity for organisations to collaborate with partners working within their areas.
Please visit here for more information on what networks may be best aligned to your organisation’s needs.
The latest blogs and podcasts sharing academic insight on our three core themes (Environmental Sustainability, Technological Transformation and Responsible Leadership), providing practical insights for readers on implementing different ideas in their own careers and within their organisations.
Click here to discover Exeter Expertise.
