WCAN for universities
The university brings the students. We bring the workplace.
A six-week, employer-led programme giving widening participation students real time with leading firms in law, finance, consulting and tech.
10+
years connecting women with the corporate world15,000+
members across law, finance, consulting and tech80+
employer partnerships, from global banks to Magic Circle firmsEmployers we work with
50%
of undergraduates should have meaningful work-based learning by 2030, under the Universities UK Future Jobs Roadmap.
Students aren't the bottleneck. Employers are.
Reaching that scale means finding far more employers willing to host, brief and mentor students. The students who need it most are often the ones without professional networks of their own.
That is the gap WCAN already fills. Imperial College London and UCL have commissioned us to bring employers to their widening participation students. We bring the firms, the professionals and the programme. You bring the cohort.
What the six weeks look like
Delivered alongside the degree, for a cohort of 30 to 40 students.
Week 1
Industry insight
Partner firms explain how their sector works and who they hire.
Week 2
Workplace visit
Students spend time inside a firm and meet people doing the job.
Week 3
Live brief
A partner firm sets a real problem for teams to work on.
Week 4
Mentoring
Professionals from our network guide each team.
Week 5
Applications
Clinics timed to firms' insight, internship and graduate deadlines.
Week 6
Present and review
Teams present to the firm. We report the results back to you.
What your university gets
Evidence for your access and participation plan
Pre and post measures, completion by student group and application outcomes, reported against your progression targets.
Countable work-based learning
Structured, employer-set activity that counts towards your Roadmap commitment.
Employers you don't have to find
We recruit, brief and manage the firms and mentors, so your team isn't chasing hosts.
Light lift for your staff
You select the cohort and we run the programme, from sessions to reporting.
Spring 2027 pilots
We're taking on a small number of university partners for the first cohort.
- Cohort
- 30 to 40 students
- Length
- Six weeks
- Students
- From your widening participation groups
- Fee
- On request