EMPLOYABILITY
Shaping the careers of tomorrow
Our reputation for strong graduate employability is boosted by alumni support
As graduates who have already made the transition into professional life, our alumni can offer valuable perspectives and insights on workplace realities, emerging opportunities, and adapting to new demands.
“Alumni input is about embedding employability meaningfully into the student experience through real-world knowledge and industry expertise,” comments Adam Gillies, Alumni Engagement Manager. “The professional knowledge and experience of our global alumni can significantly help to better prepare our students for life beyond university.”
Sharing your insights supports graduates to succeed
This year has seen more alumni involvement than ever in our Careers Service employability‑focused activities. For example, an Edinburgh campus event engaged 35 alumni on seven career‑focused panel sessions, through which they shared insights with our students across Mathematics, Psychology, Business Analysis, Marketing, and PhD career progression pathways.
“Following the success of last year’s Future Ready series, we have launched Future Ready 2: a new three-part online programme designed to help our global alumni community navigate and thrive in an evolving world of work,” Adam explains. The Alumni team are delivering this in partnership with the Careers Service.
Alumni also supported an in‑person speed networking event for Chemistry and Biology students, where industry specialists held quick‑fire conversations with students to support them to develop practical professional communication skills and receive immediate feedback.
“An alum working in industry can be a mentor. A business leader can offer a placement. An entrepreneur can share their journey. Access to a professional network can provide a first introduction,” Adam comments. Something as simple as a conversation can give a student the confidence to pursue an opportunity they might otherwise have overlooked or discover possibilities they may never have considered.
If you would like to offer your support, please get in touch
Something as simple as a conversation can give a student the confidence to pursue an opportunity they might otherwise have overlooked.”
Adam Gillies
ALUMNI VIEWS: Sharing perspectives on Heriot-Watt’s distinctive ethos of employability
The relationships and understanding that allow graduates to thrive: Dr Gareth Davies, CEO, Aquatera Group
Alum, Dr Gareth Davies, has worked as an environmental consultant for over 30 years. He is the CEO and Founder of Aquatera, an environmental and renewable energy consultancy based in the Orkney Islands. A winner of multiple accolades, Gareth has been directly involved in over 1,500 studies and research projects across the globe, spanning all continents, as well as its oceans, major seas and especially islands and island groups.
“At Aquatera, we have built up our staff mainly through Heriot-Watt University Orkney recruits – we’ve been the largest single employer of them over the last 26 years. This strategy has helped us to be a cohesive force for impact based upon practical excellence – a model inspired by our Heriot-Watt experience, which forms a cornerstone of our culture and our success.
“Heriot-Watt has always been an institution with strong local and wider global community links. At the Orkney campus, for example, the students and staff are fully integrated within the wider community, and this creates the relationships and understanding to allow graduates to thrive locally or globally.
“My Heriot-Watt learning experience fused excellent academic teaching with practical skills application, informed by pioneering research. That combination creates the applied understanding and skills required for today’s hugely challenging working environment. I think Heriot-Watt is at its best when it is ‘edgy’ and ‘pushing boundaries’. For example, the masters courses run at the Orkney Campus are groundbreaking and embedded within a pioneering innovation community, creating a learning environment that attracts students and staff who are edgy and push boundaries – that makes them, and us, more successful, inspiring and distinctive!”
Heriot-Watt is at its best when it is ‘pushing boundaries.”
Gareth Davies
Understanding employers’ needs: Iain Ritson, Senior Director, Pioneer Consulting
The proactive help and engagement I received from Heriot-Watt went above and beyond our expectations.”
Iain Ritson
Pioneer Consulting is a global specialist in submarine telecommunications. Senior Director, Iain Ritson, explains how Heriot-Watt’s understanding of employers’ needs influenced the company to seek out its graduates.
“When we started exploring a graduate recruitment programme, I spoke to seven universities in Scotland,” Iain explains. “The proactive help and engagement I received from Heriot-Watt went above and beyond our expectations. The University made the effort to understand Pioneer Consulting and what we are looking for, and it helped us engage and match with the right students. It’s why we are now working closely with Heriot-Watt on our graduate recruitment programme.”
Iain and Tilda at Pioneer Consulting.
Heriot-Watt was always very encouraging and helpful when it came to developing my employability through work experience.”
Tilda Tjäder
Heriot-Watt graduate, Tilda Tjäder, was the company’s first hire through its next-generation graduate recruitment programme: “We look for individuals with a strong technical background who are excited about engineering and emerging technology trends, quick to learn and adapt, and are comfortable embracing new ideas and tackling challenging problems,” Iain comments. “Tilda was a very strong candidate. After six months of internship with our company, she was promoted to Systems Engineer.”
“Joining Pioneer Consulting has been an amazing experience, and I am grateful to be part of its fantastic global team,” comments Tilda. “Heriot-Watt University was always very encouraging and helpful when it came to developing my employability through work experience. Before meeting Iain and starting at Pioneer Consulting, I undertook a summer internship between my third and fourth years at ST Microelectronics thanks to the partnerships Heriot-Watt has.”
Your story could inspire the next generation Have you overcome challenges, achieved career success, or taken an unexpected path since graduating from Heriot-Watt? We'd love to hear your story and share it with our global community of alumni, students and future students. Share your story
