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Keeping Talent in the Local Region

Nottingham is a city full of vibrant culture, innovative businesses and a great quality of life, making it a perfect location for students and graduates to kick-start their career. Working closely with local businesses, we are committed to assisting employers in sourcing and keeping talent in Nottingham and the local area after their studies and continuing the journey together.

Working with local talent

Graduates in gowns jumping in the air

We are focused on ensuring that NTU talent is accessible to businesses in the local area. Our Employability team have close relationships with businesses across the region including Boots, Experian and Paul Smith. We also work with hundreds of exciting small and medium-sized employers and have great connections through our networks such as the Creative Quarter and BioCity.

There are a number of initiatives throughout the year aimed specifically at businesses from the Nottingham region, allowing them to engage and build relationships with our students and graduates.

Grads4Nottm

Students celebrate their success at Grads4Nottm 2019

Returning for its 10th year, Grads4Nottm is the NTU-exclusive, two-week work experience programme, which highlights great businesses in Nottingham. The scheme focuses on maximising opportunities for students and graduates to stay in the region, and gives local employers the opportunity to showcase their business to this talent.

The initiative aims to:

  • promote Nottingham as a great place to live and work;
  • make students aware of the types of businesses and graduate jobs available;
  • help students access the growing and diverse small medium enterprise (SME) network, recognised as the largest recruiter of graduate talent in the region;
  • provide local businesses with a cost-effective way to sample new talent and create a candidate pipeline for graduate opportunities.

We are seeking local organisations who can host a small group of students for a work experience project between Monday 3 - Friday 14 June 2024. If you are interested in finding out more about this initiative, contact Grads4Nottm@ntu.ac.uk.

"Our group was simply amazing. The amount of ground covered in two weeks and the detail that they went into with our project was beyond anything we expected. They were really in tune with our business and our needs, and the recommendations they put forward were in line with conversations we had already had within the team. The students nailed the project and I’m sure they will go on to have very successful careers!"

Tom Walters - The Dairy Creative Agency, 2023

Digital Marketing Academy

Students learning at the Digital Marketing Academy

The Digital Marketing Academy informs, educates and inspires students and graduates looking to further their knowledge and career prospects within the field of digital marketing.

Run collaboratively with the University of Nottingham, and in partnership with local SME industry graduate employers, the Digital Marketing Academy is designed to advise participants on the essential skills required to become a success in the sector, and for employers to access industry-ready talent.

Following an initial ‘Get Inspired’ event, the Digital Marketing Academy provides the opportunity for participants to learn about four key areas of digital marketing:

  • Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Digital PR
  • Pay Per Click (PPC)
  • Social Media
  • Web Design and Development

The scheme was nominated in two categories at the 2020 AGCAS Awards for Excellence, namely Building Effective Partnerships and Supporting Student/Graduate Employability.

Student Sales Academy

Infographic announcing Brindis award win

Our award-winning Student Sales Academy (SSA) provides NTU students and recent graduates from all disciplines, the opportunity to explore how transferrable sales skills can be added to their personal attributes.

In partnership with several large and SME businesses, the programme comprises employer-led practical skills workshops, awareness and insight sessions, a self-study online course and interactive final event.

This employer-led career development programme:

  • de-mystifies sales and the stereotypes of a salesperson,
  • raises awareness of sales-related roles, the skills required and the employers who recruit to those roles,
  • teaches students practical sales skills and techniques,
  • connects employers with industry-ready talent.

This year the SSA has been run in parallel to the Digital Marketing Academy, giving participants flexibility to design a learning experience suited to their goals.

To find out more about these projects, please contact samantha.morley@ntu.ac.uk.

Mansfield and Ashfield

Students at Mansfield

Nottingham Trent University are delivering Foundation Degree courses in Business, Criminal Justice, Education, Sport & Exercise Science, Working with Young Children People and Families, Nursing (Adult and Mental Health) and Ambulance Technician Practice at the Higher Education Centre in Mansfield, situated next to Vision West Nottinghamshire College. The Foundation Degree courses offer student placements opportunities throughout their studies, to support local employers by bringing in skills and talent.


The location in Mansfield aims to support the local area by providing access to students studying a range of courses and increasing the opportunities for employers to work with local graduates in the region. Students will learn a range of professional skills from our dedicated teams, whilst engaging with employers during their studies to be work ready.

To find out more contact our team on 0115 848 2189 or email talent@ntu.ac.uk.