University of Warwick wins national award for helping young people into work
The University of Warwick has won Pre-Recruitment Programme of the Year at the UK Social Mobility Awards 2026, recognising the University’s work to help young people develop the skills, confidence and experience they need to take their next steps into the workplace.
The award was announced at a ceremony in Central London on Tuesday 6 October, with the awards recognising organisations and individuals making a positive difference to social mobility across the UK.
Warwick’s Social Inclusion Early Careers Intern Programme has been running for five years, giving young people from across the region the opportunity to experience the workplace, develop practical skills and build confidence as they prepare for their future careers.
Clare Algar, Social Inclusion Manager at the University of Warwick, designed and leads the programme. She said: “We’re really proud of what we’ve created at Warwick – giving young people the chance to experience the workplace, build their confidence and start thinking about their future.
“It’s fantastic to see how much participants grow in confidence during the programme. They come with different experiences and ambitions, and it’s great to see them discover new possibilities and what they’re capable of.
“Winning the Social Mobility Award is a wonderful moment for everyone involved. It celebrates the young people who have taken part, as well as the colleagues across Warwick who have helped make the programme possible.”
Each year, up to 20 young people take part in a two-week employability programme at Warwick. They take part in CV writing workshops, mock interviews and careers sessions, as well as spending time with teams across the University to get a taste of working in a large and diverse organisation.
The programme gives participants the chance to explore different career paths, try new things and develop skills they can take into their future education and employment.
Importantly, the opportunity continues beyond the two-week programme. Up to five participants are offered 12-month paid early-career internships at Warwick, giving them the opportunity to put their new skills into practice while gaining valuable workplace experience.
For Setaish Popalzai, who took part in the programme before securing a paid internship at Warwick and later full-time employment at the University, the experience helped her see new possibilities for her future.
She said: “This internship has changed my outlook on my future. It has given me opportunities I never imagined I would have at this stage of my career, while helping me explore my strengths, discover my interests and gain confidence in my abilities.
“I leave with far more than work experience – I leave with lifelong skills, valuable professional networks, greater self-belief, and a much clearer vision of the future I want to build for myself.”
Kulbir Shergill, Director of Social Inclusion at the University of Warwick, added: “Social mobility is about giving people the chance to progress, whatever their background or circumstances. At Warwick, we’re proud to create opportunities that can help people take those next steps.
“That’s what makes winning the UK Social Mobility Award particularly meaningful. We’re incredibly proud of the programme and, above all, of the young people who have taken part. Over five years, we’ve seen how that first experience of the workplace can open up new possibilities and help young people see careers they may not previously have considered as being open to them.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For more information please contact:
Stevie Connoll, Media & Communications Officer
stevie.connoll@warwick.ac.uk / +44 (0)7824 540791
About the University of Warwick
Founded in 1965, the University of Warwick is a world-leading institution known for its commitment to era-defining innovation across research and education. A connected ecosystem of staff, students and alumni, the University fosters transformative learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and bold industry partnerships across state-of-the-art facilities in the UK and global satellite hubs. Here, spirited thinkers push boundaries, experiment and challenge convention to create a better world.
07 October 2026