UN is number 4 in the UK for Employability

Date 16.11.2015

The University of Northampton is pleased to announce we have maintained our position as one of the country’s top performers for student employability.

The 2015 Destination of Higher Education Leavers data, released today, 2 July 2015, places us in the top five* in the UK.

For the third year running the University maintains a strong student employability rate of 96 per cent of students in work or further study six months after graduating.

Vice Chancellor, Professor Nick Petford said: “Our employability figure remains consistently strong at 96 per cent. This is great news for the University and for all our students; whether new graduates, undergraduates or those still contemplating their future education options.

“The Destination of Higher Education Leavers statistics once again recognises our commitment to the employability prospects of our graduates. We know that our graduates leave us with more than just great qualifications in their chosen field.”

Wray Irwin, Head of the University’s Centre for Employability and Engagement, said:  “The Centre for Employability and Engagement helps our students develop their employability skills, through placements and internship opportunities; as well as working with students to develop their confidence and work place competence to give them a competitive edge when applying for roles in their chosen industry. The University also prides itself on creating strong links with industry as part of our study programmes, which again gives students the opportunity to hone the skills employers tell us they are looking for.”

Victor Agboola, President of the University of Northampton Students’ Union said: “The Students’ Union are delighted that the University of Northampton has once again been recognised as amongst the best in England for employability. The University’s Centre for Employability and Engagement and the Students’ Union provide a fantastic service to students to enhance their employability skills through a variety of opportunities and additional training to further develop our students’ professional development and their ability to articulate these and we’re happy to see these reflected in today’s statistics.”

​The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is the official agency for the collection, analysis and dissemination of quantitative information about Higher Education. It was set up by agreement between the relevant government departments, the Higher Education funding councils and the universities and colleges in 1993, following the White Paper ‘Higher Education: a new framework’, which called for more coherence in HE statistics, and the 1992 Higher and Further Education Acts, which established an integrated higher education system throughout the United Kingdom.

* The University of Northampton is ranked fourth in the UK. Source: HESA Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) Survey 2013/14. July 2015, compared to full university status HEI’s in England, with a sample size over 1,000 students, for full time study first Undergraduate degree leavers.