The National Sixth Form Careers Summit 2026 is the special one-day event for schools’ Heads of Careers, Director of University Admissions and Heads of Sixth Form.
Presenting the very latest information, research and guidance on the graduate job market & degree apprenticeships, it is being held on Monday 5th October at 30 Euston Square in central London.
Why attend the Summit?
- Over 150 schools & sixth form colleges from the across the UK will be taking part in the event.
- Find out which universities and degree courses give Sixth Form school-leavers the best chance of being successful in today’s highly-competitive graduate job market.
- Get full details of the degree apprenticeships on offer to Sixth Form school-leavers in 2027, advice on the application & selection process, and what employers look for during recruitment.
- Meet recruiters, recent graduates and current degree apprentices from many of the UK’s most sought-after employers, offering graduate careers in accountancy, technology, banking & finance, law, engineering and business & management.
What will the Summit include?
- The programme features guest speakers, employer panels, case-studies of recent graduates & degree apprentices, and Q&A sessions.
- Expert advice from the UK’s top recruiters on how Sixth Form school-leavers can make the most of university, gain essential work experience, develop the right employability skills, and prepare to apply for their first graduate job.
- Exclusive new research on university students’ career plans & expectations, the current graduate job market, and degree apprenticeships opportunities.
- An extended networking lunch to enable schools & sixth form colleges to speak directly with the employers and speakers appearing at the Summit.
- You’ll receive complimentary copies of the new edition of The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers book and The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers guide, plus copies of all the research presented during the event.
Summit Speakers
Martin Birchall is Editor of The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers and The Sixth Formers’ Guide to Degree Apprenticeships.
He is hosting the Careers Summit and will be presenting exclusive new research on university students’ career plans & expectations, the latest assessment of the graduate job market, and degree apprenticeship opportunities.
Dr Paul Redmond is a leading expert on graduate employability and author of The Graduate’s Guide to Future-Proofing your Career.
In an age where artificial intelligence is reshaping the job market, staying ahead requires more than just traditional skills. Paul provides a compelling exploration of how AI is redefining careers and reveals how today’s school-leavers can master the skills needed for future job resilience.
Beaulah Chadwick is Deputy Director of the Civil Service Fast Stream and Emerging Talent team.
The Civil Service is currently number one in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers and recruits up to 700 graduates annually for its prestigious Fast Stream programme, the gateway to major Government departments like the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Ministry of Justice and DEFRA.
Faheem Khan is the Founder and Chief Executive of Future Leaders UK, a social mobility organisation dedicated to bridging the gap between diverse young talent and leading employers.
Future Leaders UK provides a free, year-long leadership and career development programme for sixth form students across the UK. It focuses on young people from underrepresented or underserved backgrounds, giving them access to competitive career paths, networks, and higher education.
Booking your place at the Summit
The are a limited number of places available at the Summit and will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis, with a maximum of two places available per school or sixth form college.
The delegate rate for the Summit is £295+VAT, which includes a two-course lunch, copies of the latest graduate & degree apprenticeship research presented during the day, plus a full delegate pack featuring recruitment information for each of the employers taking part in the event.