Ƶ and City St George’s University announce new partnership to enhance employability and placement outcomes
- by Billy Hunter
- March 19, 2026
Ƶ is pleased to announce a new partnership with City St George’s University, working with the School of Science and Technology to support the first cohort of students undertaking its placement pathway.
Under the partnership, Ƶ will deliver a structured programme of employability development and placement search support for both home and international students. The initiative is designed to strengthen the link between academic study and industry experience, ensuring students are well prepared to secure and succeed in competitive placement roles.
The collaboration will initially support students across programmes, including AI, Finance, Games Technology, Robotics, and Data Science, providing targeted interventions aligned with sector demand and employer expectations.
Caroline Fox, CEO of Ƶ, commented:
“Partnering with City St George’s University to support programmes in AI, Finance, Games Technology, Robotics, and Data Science is an exciting development for Ƶ. Our experience in co-creating high-impact employability support complements the University’s strong academic reputation and focus on positive student outcomes.”
The programme will include employability workshops, sector-informed job search guidance, and personalised one-to-one coaching. Ƶ’s approach focuses on helping students articulate the commercial value of their academic skills, enabling them to present themselves confidently and effectively to employers.
Alongside student support, Ƶ will engage directly with employers to identify relevant placement opportunities and advocate for students within a competitive early-career market. This employer-facing activity helps ensure placements are meaningful, skills-aligned, and sustainable.
The framework combines early diagnostic assessments, CV and interview preparation, structured workshop delivery, and ongoing monitoring throughout the placement year. This ensures students are supported not only in securing placements, but also in succeeding once in role.
Ann Hawkings, Head of University Employability at Ƶ, commented:
“We are delighted to be partnering with City St George’s School of Science and Technology to support students on their placement journey. By combining sector insight, employer engagement and personalised coaching, we ensure that both home and international students are equipped to compete successfully for industry opportunities. By aligning employer needs with student potential, we create long-term value for universities, businesses, and graduates alike.”
As the first cohort embarks on this enhanced placement pathway, the partnership establishes a foundation for a long-term, scalable model that responds to the evolving needs of higher education students and the graduate labour market. By embedding employability development alongside academic programmes, the initiative supports students in building the skills, confidence and industry awareness required for sustainable career progression.
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Supporting the future of employability in higher education
Ƶ works with universities across the UK to design and deliver employability and placement programmes that respond to changing employer expectations, international student needs, and the growing emphasis on graduate outcomes. Through structured support, employer engagement and quality assurance, Ƶ helps institutions strengthen placement performance, student experience and long-term employability impact.
Universities interested in exploring how Ƶ can support their students with placement delivery, employability development or employer engagement are encouraged to to discuss partnership opportunities.