Seven new roles signal a major shift in how the university connects with industry

University College Birmingham (UCB) has created seven new roles to build a dedicated Business and Employer Engagement team as part of its strategy to deepen ties with businesses, alumni and regional partners.

The team, led by Vickie Pargetter-Garner, Director of Business and Employer Engagement, will bring together UCB’s offer to industry, spanning student placements, apprenticeships, CPD, consultancy and access to specialist facilities.

Vickie said: “This is an exciting period for University College Birmingham. We already have a strong offer for employers, but this new team will give us the structure, focus and capacity to take that offer out to market with much greater confidence.”

Building partnerships that benefit students and businesses

The new posts include a Head of Business Development, two school-facing Business Development Managers, a Business Development Executive, a Marketing and Events Manager, a Systems, Data and Insights Manager, and an Enterprise Consultant.

Together, the team will work across UCB’s academic schools and professional services to make it easier for businesses of all sizes to engage with the university, from SMEs to large regional and national organisations.

Vickie added: “Our ambition is simple: we want employer engagement to sit at the heart of our university experience. That means building partnerships that benefit students, support businesses, inform our curriculum and contribute to the economic and social prosperity of the region.”

The investment reflects UCB’s broader commitment to supporting communities across Birmingham and beyond.