This November, Biosciences Employability Week (BEW) returned with its strongest programme to date, engaging students across every year group and pathway in a packed schedule of talks, panels, interactive activities, and employer networking.
The week continued to be closely integrated into the School of Biosciences’ curriculum, with first, second and final year students completing portfolio assessments linked directly to BEW themes encouraging them to explore career options, reflect on their strengths, gain professional insights and prepare for video-interviews for summer work-based experience.
With over 2,100 session registrations, the week once again demonstrated the appetite students have for early career exploration. Sessions were rated an impressive 6.2 out of 7, with students consistently praising how informative, practical, and confidence-boosting they found the programme.
Monday: Exploring career possibilities
The week opened with strong with a focus on helping students understand the breadth of opportunities available with a Biosciences degree. Sessions centred on platforms for exploration, labour-market insights, and strategies for career planning and identifying and filling skills gaps.
Student feedback highlighted the impact:
- “Has lots of useful information.”
- “I appreciate your advice for my future… it helps me understand the UK job market process.”
- “Very informative – I got a lot out of it.”
Tuesday: Postgraduate options and future pathways
Tuesday’s programme gave students a clear overview of postgraduate study routes, from MRes and PGT courses to PhDs and the chance to engage with alumni and programme directors. Guidance focused on choosing pathways, understanding expectations accessing funding and the plethora of routes both within and outside of Biosciences.
Students responded enthusiastically:
- “Very informative – I had no idea I had that many options!”
- “Great detail on how to choose a master’s.”
- “Encouraged me to do an MRes.”
Wednesday: Get Hired Day
With 920 registrations, Get Hired Day was the busiest day of BEW 2025 and a major highlight. Students attended sector-specific panels featuring employers from pharmaceuticals, ecology, government, medical communications, research, and other bioscience-aligned fields.
Feedback reflected how valuable students found the real-world insight:
- “The guests were very kind and informative.”
- “Loved hearing about career paths outside lab work.”
- “Very informative – a great opportunity to understand the career pathways available to me.”
Alongside the panels, the Summer Studentship Showcase attracted strong interest. Students heard directly from staff and external partners about paid research-based studentships available externally and within the School of Biosciences. Engagement was high, with many students asking detailed questions about application processes and project experience. Students who completed their studentships in 2024 showcased their posters and networked with their peers about their research.
Employer feedback
IPG Health:
“The day was really well thought out. The panel talk meant students came to networking already informed, and we spoke to many highly relevant students. The added touches—like lunch and help setting up—were appreciated. Several students have already connected with me on LinkedIn about roles and internships.”
Pfizer:
“Structured events like this reach the right audience and lead to more meaningful conversations than general careers fairs. Students were highly engaged and asked direct, thoughtful questions. I even met two applicants progressing through our recruitment stages, which is great to see.”
WWT:
“I’ve already connected with several students on LinkedIn, and I hope many will apply for our placements for the 26/27 academic year. It’s important for us to engage with local universities like Liverpool, who do excellent work supporting students facing barriers.”
Thursday: Enterprise challenge with Lyva Labs
Thursday saw students take part in a hands-on enterprise challenge delivered by Lyva Labs, a local innovation agency. Working in small teams, students developed an idea to pitch to Lyva Labs for seed investment that tackled a public health problem within the Liverpool City Region.
The winning group earned a work experience opportunity with Liverpool Shared Research Facilities (LIV-SRF), an exciting route for students to gain commercial awareness and practical experience.
Friday: Networking and application skills
Friday’s programme focused on building confidence in professional interactions and preparing for applications. Topics included LinkedIn optimisation, networking strategy, and making excellent applications.
Students found the practical guidance particularly beneficial:
- “Thoroughly found the networking events useful.”
- “Really helpful information about enhancing LinkedIn profiles.”
- “A good reminder and push to start applying for postgraduate jobs.”
These sessions equipped students with immediately actionable tools for their job search.
The impact of Biosciences Employability Week
BEW 2025 didn’t just offer talks and workshops—it made employability a real part of the student experience. Students weren’t just listening; they were putting what they learned into practice and using it to plan their future.
The week brought in big names like Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Unilever, DEFRA, Natural England, CSL Seqirus, IPG Health, the Civil Service, and Teach First. These employers were impressed by how engaged and prepared the students were, and many said they’d love to come back next year – a strong sign of how valuable BEW has become.
By combining career insights, skills development, and networking opportunities, BEW 2025 gave students across all year groups the chance to grow in confidence, gain clarity about their goals, and make meaningful connections. Its success was thanks to the teamwork of staff, the Careers and Employability team, industry partners, and—most importantly—the students themselves. Together, they’ve made BEW a highlight of the Liverpool student experience.