King's College London

The prestigious award celebrates teams that demonstrate excellence through innovation, partnership and sustained impact. Judges praised KC&E for the services delivered to students in addition to the way the team works across the University and beyond to support employability across the student experience.

KC&E equips students with essential employability skills and knowledge, empowering them to shape meaningful career pathways. They have built a dynamic and inclusive careers ecosystem by working closely with a wide range of internal and external partners. Bringing together specialists in careers education, employer engagement, researcher development, and inclusive practice, the team ensures students can access high‑quality, expert support throughout their studies and develop transferable skills that are valued by employers.

KC&E’s approach is exemplified by the King’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship (KURF), which gives students the chance to build research skills and explore research careers. Delivered in close partnership with academic colleagues across King’s, KURF combines hands‑on research experience with structured development, with participants consistently reporting increased confidence and research capability.

A KURF participant said:

“As someone who’d never done much research outside of modules, and whose family did not go to university, it was daunting to even approach academia despite wanting to engage in it more. KURF gave me a great introduction into that world and helped build the confidence necessary to set me on the path.”

The team’s collaborative approach also underpins its international work, strengthening ties between our students and the global job market. The China Careers Fairs, delivered with LSE and Imperial College London, connected King’s students and graduates with employers across Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, reflecting KC&E’s ability to build trusted partnerships and translate global employer insight into student opportunity.

Beyond King’s, KC&E contributes sector leadership through representation on national boards and networks, including the Graduate Futures Institute and Institute for Student Employers, sharing evidence‑based practice and helping to shape the future direction of this work in UK higher education.

The award recognises KC&E for both what it delivers and how a skilled, collaborative team uses partnership and professional expertise to support King’s students and researchers to thrive in a changing and challenging graduate labour market.