University of Southampton FOI

1 May 2026

Festival of Industries Health and Social Care Event at the University of Southampton in collaboration with the Solent Careers Hub

By Katy Bevan, SUN Project Facilitator

On the 25th March, the Southern Universities Network hosted its Festival of Industries event at the University of Southampton for two local school groups. The Festival of Industries event is designed to bring students onto campus and introduce them to employers through interactive workshops to gain experience about varied career opportunities. Each event has a theme for different industries; this year’s theme was Health and Social Care.

This year, the Southern Universities Network has partnered with the Solent Careers Hub to bring new employers to the project. Through this partnership, we were lucky enough to work with Aviva Health, a health insurance company who delivered a fantastic workshop, getting students to work on their problem-solving skills while discussing career routes and opportunities with the staff from Aviva. During the day, the students also took part in a campus tour, led by students from the University of Southampton currently studying healthcare related courses which gave them further insight into student life and the various educational pathways.

The feedback from both staff and students following the workshop were excellent. With students saying how they particularly enjoyed ‘the problem-solving activities and working as a team to learn about health and social care.’

A huge 100% of students said they found the day an enjoyable experience. 93% also stated they now felt more confident when describing the skills they needed to develop to succeed in their education and future.

Overall, this year’s Festival of Industries was a resounding success, providing students with a valuable opportunity to explore the diverse and rewarding pathways within Health and Social Care. The collaboration between the Southern Universities Network and Solent Careers Hub, alongside the contributions from Aviva Health, played a vital role in delivering such an engaging and impactful experience. With overwhelmingly positive feedback, the event continues to highlight the importance of early exposure to careers education and the lasting difference it can make in shaping young people’s aspirations.