Stuart Marriott, Associate Director of the Careers and Employability Service, reflects on why we’ve held a top 10 position in High Fliers for more than a decade and on our approach to supporting students and graduates.

Graduates celebrating at graduation

Being named once again as one of the top three most targeted universities by the UK’s leading graduate employers in The Graduate Market by High Fliers Research 2026 is not just a result for our current students, but a reflection of the quality of our global alumni community.

Leading employers continue to choose Nottingham year after year as a destination for recruitment – in fact, we’ve held a top five position for six consecutive years and a top 10 position for more than a decade. Much of that enduring trust comes from the sustained impact and value that Nottingham graduates deliver within their organisations every day.

Alumni connections are a key part of our employer ecosystem

Every year, we work with nearly 3,000 organisations – from global employers such as Amazon, PwC, Capital One and Rolls‑Royce to thriving SMEs, regional businesses and major public‑sector bodies including the NHS and the Civil Service. This extensive network results in nearly 40,000 opportunities being promoted to students and graduates each year.

Through placements, internships, employer events and experiences like our Consultancy Challenge and the Nottingham Advantage Award, we give students multiple ways to build skills, gain experience and understand what employers are looking for.

I think the biggest thing the university gave me wasn’t just technical knowledge, but the way of thinking that employers look for – how to approach problems, structure your work, and communicate what you’re doing.
Joyce Akey (Mechanical Engineering, 2023), Validation Engineer at Markem-Imaje Industries.

In addition, our nationally significant apprenticeship portfolio empowers employers to strengthen their future workforce in a different way. Organisations across the private and public sectors use our programmes to nurture new talent and build the occupationally specific skills required to drive performance in critical roles.

These partnerships are strengthened immeasurably by our alumni – many of you champion Nottingham talent in your workplaces, offer work experience opportunities, or share your experiences and insights with students through events and communications.

For example, Future Connections enables students from less advantaged backgrounds to step inside alumni-led employers such as Microsoft UK & Ireland, Bloomberg, NEF and EY. While our BICEP programme supports students from Black heritage backgrounds by connecting them with inspiring Black mentors and industry role models. These initiatives broaden horizons, build confidence and grow knowledge – and they wouldn’t exist without alumni leadership and generosity.

Our students continue to raise the bar

The High Fliers report highlights how graduate-level opportunities nationally have tightened, making the strength of a university’s employer relationships more important than ever.

Thanks to the skills our students develop – and the support and engagement of our alumni community – Nottingham continues to stand out. Students bring the problem‑solving mindset, adaptability and communication skills that leading employers value, enriched by a vibrant campus experience with over 400 societies, extensive volunteering opportunities and inclusive sports and wellbeing programmes.

My course set me up for success but there were also so many other opportunities that I took advantage of at Nottingham to develop myself. There are many opportunities available from student groups, ways to be involved with your department and an incredible careers team that provide excellent advice to help you get ready for interviews and looking for jobs.
Amy Gilmore (Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 2024), Electrical Hardware Engineer at Turntide Technologies.

The results speak for themselves: more Nottingham graduates enter highly skilled employment than from any other UK university (HESA Graduate Outcomes publications 2021–2025; full-time UK UG and PG graduates 2019–2023).

Could Nottingham talent benefit your organisation?

To all our alumni who already partner with us, offer opportunities or act as advocates: thank you. Your support shapes student aspirations and strengthens Nottingham’s reputation with top employers around the world.

If you’re looking to bring fresh talent into your organisation, or want to give something back, we would love to hear from you. Whether it’s sharing your expertise, hosting a placement, supporting a scholarship or simply advertising your graduate-level roles on our free jobs board, there are many ways to make a real difference to the next generation of Nottingham graduates.

Our careers support doesn’t end when you graduate

As Nottingham alumni, you have lifelong access to our careers advisers, events and exclusive graduate jobs board. Our Careers and Employability Service is here to help you navigate career changes, professional development and new opportunities – whenever you need us.

If you’re a recent graduate – one of the most valuable ways you can help future students is by completing your Graduate Outcomes survey, which is emailed to you 15 months after you graduate. Your response directly shapes national rankings, informs prospective students and helps us continue to grow our support for our whole university community.