University Careers Fest: Opening doors across the built environment
Posted on: 27 February, 2026
Speakers Emma Fletcher from Octopus Energy and Lucie Gresham-Hill from Willmott Dixon
The University of the Built Environment’s annual Careers Fest returns in March, bringing together industry leaders, alumni, employers and students for a month of insight, connection and opportunity.
During the festival, which is entirely virtual, current students can engage in careers workshops, join conversations with key industry professionals, and listen to inspirational podcasts.
In conversation with industry professionals
Highlights include ‘In Conversation with Industry’ sessions, featuring senior professionals such as Kate Smith, Executive Director at CBRE, who will share the story behind Henrietta House and the creation of an agile workplace blueprint.
Emma Fletcher, Director of Octopus Energy’s Low Carbon Homes Project, will explore zero-bills homes, green jobs and emerging RICS pathways in retrofit and sustainability.
There are also sessions focused on navigating the SME market, leadership and strategy in smaller businesses, and construction management within the heritage and conservation sector.
Careers workshops
For those weighing up career direction, workshops such as ‘Running Your Own Business – Is It Right for You?’, ‘Graduate Programmes – An Employer Guide’, and ‘Green Skills and Green Careers’ provide grounded, realistic advice about today’s labour market.
Employability booster sessions, including ‘Back to the Office: Professionalism in an Agile World’ and ‘Interview Skills’, offer practical strategies for thriving in both hybrid and face-to-face environments.
Student Alicia Martin will be delivering a session with her family firm about leadership and strategy in SMEs
Careers podcast
Students can also hear directly from University alumni through the ‘Constructing your Next Chapter’ podcast series, where graduates share candid reflections on completing their Assessment of Professional Competence (APC), changing careers, navigating neurodiversity in the workplace, and building professional networks.
How to join a session
Sessions can be booked via Careers Connect, where full details and joining links are available. All live sessions run in UK time, with selected recordings shared afterwards.
As a primarily online-only University with a global community, all sessions are delivered virtually, making it easy for students to join from anywhere in the world.
Bridget Wells, the University’s Careers Consultant and organiser of Careers Fest, said:
“One of the best parts of any University of the Built Environment Careers event is hearing from alumni, subject experts, and industry leaders who broaden our horizons and introduce us to new career possibilities.
“Our speakers bring enthusiasm, insight and a genuine commitment to growing the skills of the next generation of Built Environment professionals.”
