Employability

Are you interested in starting your own business, becoming self-employed, or freelancing? 

The Venture Programme is designed to help you build the skills, knowledge, confidence, and connections you need to succeed in your business journey. Whether you want to enhance your entrepreneurial skills, launch a startup, or pursue a freelancing career, the Venture Programme will challenge your ideas, introduce you to the business world, and give you the tools to turn your ambitions into reality. 

Open to all University of Chester students and graduates (within two years of graduating).  

For more details, current students and graduates can visit CareerHub.

Inspiring Futures is a dedicated programme designed to support students identified through the University’s Access and Participation Plan recognising that not everyone starts from the same place in life. We’re here to provide the resources, guidance, and opportunities you need to succeed in your career journey.

The programme includes the Futures Employability Fund, which provides financial support for eligible students and graduates to help you build skills, gain experience, and seize opportunities that may otherwise be out of reach due to financial constraints. This funding stream is exclusively for students and graduates (within 12 months of graduating) who meet the criteria.

The programme also includes opportunities for level 5 and level 6 students to apply into part-time fully funded Inspiring  Future Internships.  The Careers and Employabilty Team will contact Inspiring Futures students to notify them when these opportunities are open, or students can search Inspiring Futures opportunities on CareerHub.

For more information, visit CareerHub or email us at inspiringfutures@chester.ac.uk.

Chester Graduate Internships

We collaborate with local businesses to offer soon-to-be and recent undergraduates [within 12  months of graduation] the opportunity to apply into funded, paid work experience. Chester Graduate Internships can offer the first step into professional employment and help build valuable skills and experience.

Explore available Chester Internship opportunities on CareerHub.

Access the Volunteer Hub to find over 100 volunteer providers and 150 volunteering opportunities.    

Other services include:  

• Student-led Projects – led by students, for students.
• Give it a go programme: One-off volunteer opportunities.
• UCV (University of Chester Volunteering) Awards. Get recognised for your volunteering efforts through our award scheme with recognition on your Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR).

To find out more visit CareerHub or email volunteering@chester.ac.uk and follow us on Instagram: @UoCVolunteering.

We’re here to help you get involved and make a difference!

The Peer Mentoring scheme aims to support new first-year Undergraduate students (Levels 3 and 4) as they transition into University life.

Through the scheme, new first-year students can connect with a student Peer Mentor through our online Mentoring platform.

Peer Mentors are trained current students who have completed at least one full year of study at the University of Chester.

A Peer Mentor can:

• Help you feel more confident and connected in your first few weeks at University

• Suggest clubs, societies, and ways to meet new people 

• Let you know about useful support services and how to access them 

• Share tips on how to manage your timetable, coursework, or just juggling life and study

To find out more, please visit CareerHub or email: peermentoring@chester.ac.uk.

1. Every new first-year Undergraduate (Level 3 and 4) student is eligible to apply for a Peer Mentor. New Undergraduate students receive an invitation email from August onwards and the opportunity to register onto the Mentoring platform is open throughout the whole academic year.
2. After you register onto the Mentoring platform, the Peer Mentoring team will review your application.
3. Once approved, you will be able to access the Mentoring platform and request a Peer Mentor.

Get a Peer Mentor

To be eligible to become a Peer Mentor, you must be:

• A current student at the University of Chester
• Have completed at least one full year of study at the University of Chester
• Be continuing your studies in the next academic year

Eligible students are invited to register on the Peer Mentoring platform during the recruitment window, which opens each February and closes in July.

To find out more, please visit CareerHub or email peermentoring@chester.ac.uk.

• Developing your skills and capabilities to get a job – e.g. interview training, presentation skills, giving your elevator pitch, searching and applying to jobs, crafting your professional LinkedIn profile 
• Developing your digital / IT skills – e.g. PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and other software
• Developing key skills needed in your future careers – e.g. Project Management, Working in Teams, Communication, Time Management, other specific technologies
• Courses to help you and your own wellbeing – e.g. Self-motivation, Wellness, Improving your Focus, Resilience, Stress & Relaxation

Do I need a LinkedIn profile to use LinkedIn Learning?

• No, but it helps. You can use LinkedIn Learning without having a LinkedIn (networking) profile, but there are several benefits of having both, such as being able to add certificates/badges to your LinkedIn profile when you complete courses.

How long are the courses?

• Courses do vary but tend to be on average around an hour long. You can pause and come back to it at any time. Every course is made up of smaller video components (usually 3-5 minutes each) – sometimes you don’t need a whole course, and a couple of the quick videos might help you with what you need.

How can I access LinkedIn Learning?

• Please use this link to take you straight to LinkedIn Learning
• You will need to be logged into the universities systems using your university username and password
• If you do connect your LinkedIn profile (see above) then you will also need to be logged into LinkedIn