Why it matters: For students in Suffolk preparing to enter the workforce, understanding how AI is already being used by major employers could prove critical to their career prospects.
The details: University of Suffolk undergraduate and postgraduate students were joined by students from seven further education providers across Suffolk and Essex. Together, they heard from a panel of industry experts including Tom Cole, HSBC Non-Human Identity Control Framework Owner whose work helps protect the bank and its customers from cyber risks.
Others included: Accenture Managing Director, Shelby Flora. Dummett Copp’s UK and European Patent Attorney, Derek Holmes, and C-J Green, co-founder of CleverGoose also joined the students to share their expertise.
This year's theme centred on AI in the workplace, exploring how its rapid expansion is shaping jobs and career opportunities across multiple sectors, how it is being used day-to-day, and what it means for graduates entering the workforce.
What they're saying: Claire Culley, senior lecturer in marketing and management at the University of Suffolk, who organised the day, said: "The Business Industry Day is a fantastic opportunity for students across the county and region to gain real-world insights, ask questions and network with industry professionals who can help shape their future careers."
"The growth of AI presents a wealth of opportunities and challenges to students when they transition from education into the workplace, and a dedicated event to help them explore this with experts in their industries is just one of the ways we work to ensure our students and graduates can use AI responsibly."
The bottom line: With AI reshaping careers across almost every sector, events like this give Suffolk's next generation of workers a crucial head start in understanding the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
