15/09/2026

Before the new academic year gets underway, now is a great time to think not only about the opportunities available today, but also about where you would like to be this time next year and building some personal goals.

Whether your goal is securing a placement, internship, graduate role, further study place, or simply feeling more confident about your skills and future direction, small actions taken consistently over the year can make a big difference. This edition includes a range of current opportunities, alongside a Skill Spotlight focused on taking control of your career development.

Graduate schemes 2027

• Management Development Services, MDS Graduate Scheme 2027  UK and Switzerland, Sept 2027
• Buying Graduate – Morrisons and People Management Graduate – Morrisons: 04/11/26, Bradford, 4 November

Graduate Roles

• Events and Marketing Executive – Manchester Law Society, Manchester 17 September
• Graduate Management Scheme – Manchester University Foundation NHS Trust, Manchester 20 September
• Graduate PR Account Executive – TMC Communications, Manchester, 17 September
• Graduate Business Development Executive – Purely Energy, Manchester, 25 September
• Community & Marketing Officer – Prospere Learning Trust, Manchester, 20 September

Placements with 2027 start date

• UK Hospitality Placements – Placement Year International, 5 October
• Change Placement 27/28 – Counter Terrorism Policing HQ, 31 October

Freelance opportunities and info sessions

• Freelance Digital Creative – InPeak – InPeak, a specialist rehabilitation clinic in Alderley Edge, is looking for a freelance Digital Creative to create engaging digital content. This is a great opportunity for students interested in marketing, content creation, design and digital communications to build their portfolio while working on health, science, and clinical-adjacent design work. Projects include presentation materials, digital graphics and educational content. Flexible hours on project-based work paying £15/hour. To apply: Email James directly at info@inpeak.co.uk with a few examples of your work
• Get ahead and book Graduate Schemes Unpacked: from applying to life on the programme – hear from those who have done it about what it’s really like to apply and work on a grad scheme. Hear insights from BAE Systems, MAG and HMRC.

Skill Spotlight: Planning where you want to be this time next year

As the new academic year approaches and many of you prepare to return to campus, now is a great opportunity to pause and think about your career goals for the year ahead. A new academic year brings new opportunities to gain experience, develop skills and take steps towards the future you want.

Where would you like to be this time next year? You might be hoping to secure a placement, gain an internship, land a graduate role, progress to postgraduate study or find part-time work that helps you feel more confident talking about your skills and achievements. Whatever your goal, having a plan can help turn good intentions into action.

Try setting yourself two or three career goals for the year and identify one small action you can take this month towards each of them. That might be updating your CV, standing out on LinkedIn, attending a careers event, exploring what to do with your degree or making your first application.

You do not need to have everything figured out. The important thing is to get started. Small, consistent actions throughout the year can build confidence, create opportunities and make a real difference to where you are by the time the next academic year begins.