The latest cohort of De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) students to take part in the BrightER Futures programme are fired up for the future after spending time with companies providing graduate opportunities on their doorstep.
Delivered in partnership with ER Recruitment, the programme connects final-year students with employers across Leicestershire through placements, mentoring, networking and professional development activities designed to prepare them for graduate careers.
Now in its seventh year, BrightER Futures has helped scores of students explore career opportunities within the region, while enabling local employers to support and engage with emerging talent.
Businesses supporting this year’s programme included Leicester Tigers, Nelsons Solicitors, Morro Partnerships, East Midlands Chamber, Scope Construction, Flogas Britain, Michael Smith Switchgear, EMA Training, Mattioli Woods, Juice Creative Design, Menphys, Meesh Consulting, Sarah Higgins Corporate Coaching and PPL PRS.
Alongside placements, students also took part in workshops focused on employability skills including CV development, interview preparation, LinkedIn optimisation and personal branding.
One of this year’s students, third-year Law student Fatima Bhula, spent a week with Nelsons Solicitors in Leicester. “I was there for one week and on my first day I was doing commercial, private client and employment law,” she said. “I got to explore lots of different areas and they showed me the kinds of cases they deal with. It was all very different, I loved it.”
Fatima said the experience had changed the direction she may take after graduation.
“I was thinking about corporate law before, but after experiencing the office environment and the type of work they do, I feel more drawn towards residential property. Finding the right field for you is as much a part of the journey.”
Danielle Young, Partner Solicitor in Clinical Negligence at Nelsons Solicitors, said: “We have had a student come to us previously through BrightER Futures for work experience who later applied for a trainee solicitor role and was successful.
“He has since moved on to another role and that shows the power of this programme. Leicester is one of Nelsons’ smaller offices but there is a very collegiate atmosphere here and students get exposure to a wide variety of work. Finding the right field for you is very much part of the journey and part of the power of the programme.”
Business Management student Haleem Bello completed his placement with the marketing team at Leicester Tigers, gaining experience across graphic design, customer engagement, photography, social media and sales.
“To be honest it has been amazing – just the overall environment,” he said. “I’m a football fan, but I can definitely say I’m a Leicester Tigers fan now because of how the players interacted with supporters. Seeing that connection with fans was brilliant.”
Haleem, who also runs his own streetwear brand, GS4 London, said the experience had helped him think more seriously about a future project management role.
Marketing student Jago Boswell joined housing developer Morro Partnerships, where he gained experience working within the company’s marketing team.
“It has been great to experience a real-life marketing company and be part of that,” he said. "It was hands-on and showed me a completely different side of the industry than what I have studied.”
Eileen Richards of Eileen Richards Recruitment which set up the programme, said: ““We’re incredibly proud of how BrightER Futures continues to support students in building confidence, developing employability skills and gaining valuable insight into the world of work.
“The success of the programme is only possible thanks to the fantastic support from local businesses who continue to invest their time and expertise into emerging talent across Leicester and the wider East Midlands. It’s always rewarding to see students grow in confidence and take positive next steps in their careers as a result of the programme.
“We are looking forward to continuing this incredible partnership between ER Recruitment and DMU.”
Phil Curtis, senior graduate success manager at DMU, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the businesses that continue to support the programme year after year. Their willingness to share their expertise, provide placements and invest time in our students makes a real difference.
“One of the most valuable aspects of BrightER Futures is that it helps students discover the breadth of opportunities available within Leicestershire. Many are surprised by the range of organisations, career paths and progression opportunities on offer right here in the region.”
Posted on Monday 1 June 2026