At the RAU, developing your skills for your future career is at the heart of your University experience.
Our dedicated Enterprise and Employability Team will help you recognise your strengths, explore your career options and make the most of the skills, experiences and qualifications you develop during your degree.
By working closely with employers and industry partners, we ensure our support reflects the needs of today’s workplace. From personalised careers guidance to a wide range of employability activities, you’ll have opportunities to build your confidence, develop your professional identity and stand out in a competitive job market.
Preparing you for your future.
Employability and enterprise are embedded throughout your time at the RAU. Through your course, work placement and wider activities, you will develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to succeed in a changing world of work.
Our approach is shaped by the RAU Graduate Framework, which supports every student to become:
- Professionally minded – a reflective, self-aware and collaborative team member who communicates effectively and approaches new challenges with confidence and flexibility.
- Sustainability focused – committed to environmental sustainability and regeneration, with an understanding of global complexity and systems thinking.
- An innovative thinker – commercially aware, curious and able to develop creative solutions to real-world challenges.
- Technically skilled – ready to enter the workplace with strong technical, practical and digital skills, informed by scientific evidence.
The Graduate Framework is underpinned by the RAU’s values: collaborative, open-minded, resourceful, responsible and inclusive.
Connecting you with industry
RAU graduates are recruited by leading organisations in the UK and around the world. Our strong relationships with employers help ensure that our courses and careers support remain relevant to the needs of industry.
Employers contribute to university life as guest speakers, placement providers and hosts for visits and live projects. They also take part in our Careers Fair, panel discussions and other events, giving you opportunities to gain current industry insight, explore different career paths and build valuable professional connections.
Gaining workplace experience
Undergraduate students complete a minimum 12-week work placement during their second year of study, with the option to undertake a full placement year as part of many courses. Placements enable you to apply your learning in a professional setting, develop your skills and gain experience of recruitment and the workplace.
Our Placement Team provides support throughout the process, from finding opportunities and preparing applications to completing the necessary approval and compliance requirements.
Careers and employability support
Our Enterprise and Employability Team provides support throughout your studies and for up to three years after graduation.
Support includes:
- One-to-one careers guidance, available in person or online
- Access to My Career, our 24-hour online platform for appointments, events, graduate roles, placements and part-time vacancies
- AI-powered tools to support career planning, job searches and applications
- Skills Discovery profiles, powered by Cappfinity, to help you identify your strengths and areas for development
- Practical support with CVs, applications, LinkedIn profiles and interview preparation
- Support with finding and securing a work placement
- Careers workshops, webinars, employer panels and industry presentations
- Our annual Careers Fair, bringing together employers offering graduate roles, placements and other opportunities
- Employability learning embedded within your course and aligned with the RAU Graduate Framework leading to a digital badge in recognition of your achievement
You will also benefit from the support of the RAU’s global alumni community. Former students regularly share their experience, professional insight and industry connections to help the next generation of RAU graduates succeed.
Enterprise support
If you have a business idea or want to develop your entrepreneurial skills, the Ignite Enterprise Programme offers workshops, competitions, online learning and one-to-one support.
Whether you are exploring an initial idea, developing an existing venture or building valuable commercial skills, Ignite can help you take your next step.
It is never too early to start thinking about your future. Engage with the Enterprise and Employability Team from the beginning of your studies to explore your options, build your experience and make the most of the opportunities available to you.
For further information about careers, placements or enterprise support, please contact the Enterprise and Employability Team (careers@rau.ac.uk or enterprise@rau.ac.uk)
Employers: advertise a vacancy
The Royal Agricultural University welcomes opportunities from employers who would like to recruit our students and recent graduates or support them in developing their skills and experience.
To advertise a graduate role, placement, part-time or casual job, vacation opportunity or volunteering position, employers will need to register on My Career. Once registered, you can upload and manage your vacancies directly. Approved opportunities will be available to current RAU students and graduates for up to three years after completing their studies.
Other opportunities for employers
We can also help employers connect with our students, graduates and our academic community through:
- Presentations, workshops and employer-led sessions
- Attendance at our annual Careers Fair, subject to availability
- Work placement opportunities
- Student projects and live business challenges
- Industry visits, panel discussions and networking activities
- Collaboration with academic staff and courses
For further information or support, please contact the Enterprise and Employability Team at careers@rau.ac.uk.