Future Skills education helps Kingston University student build international experience and secure nuclear industry role

As the first in her family to go to university, geography student Abbie Finn wasn’t sure where her degree would take her.

Having had to overcome some health challenges before starting her studies, attending Kingston University felt like a fresh start - but she never imagined herself speaking in front of industry leaders, contributing to global conversations or securing a graduate role in a competitive sector.

“That wasn’t something I ever saw myself doing. I was very inexperienced and completely new to city life, and had been through a difficult period before coming to university. In my head, people from backgrounds like mine don’t get opportunities like this,” she said.

Three years on, Abbie has successfully applied for a nuclear supply chain role in the London office of an organisation behind one of the UK’s leading infrastructure projects, Sizewell C. Ahead of her graduation ceremony, she reflected on how the learning gained through the University’s sector-leading Future Skills programme had helped her challenge and overcome that perception.

Developing human-centric skills through Future Talent Council Fellowship

In her final year, Abbie was awarded a place on the inaugural Future Talent Council Global Student Fellowship, an opportunity that came about through her participation in the University’s Future Skills Apply module.

Embedded as a taught and assessed part of every year of every undergraduate degree, Future Skills is designed to help students develop key graduate attributes such as communication, adaptability and creative problem solving, taking part in employer experiences alongside their subject-specific learning.

The six-month international Future Talent Council Fellowship brought together students from across the globe to help prepare the next generation of leaders through global collaboration, mentorship and skills development. 

Working as part of a student team spanning the UK, Dubai, Mexico and Australia, Abbie developed experience of collaborating across cultures, managing deadlines across time zones and exploring how to improve access to early careers opportunities.

“I’m incredibly grateful that Future Skills opened the door for me to apply for this opportunity,” she said. “Being placed into a team across so many different countries was intimidating at first, but it taught me skills that are essential when working in global organisations.”

As part of the Fellowship, Abbie spent several hours each week working on AI-focused activities, attending meetings with Future Talent Council members and leaders, and completing self-reflection projects before progressing onto a brief focused on emerging talent. The project culminated in an opportunity to present her team’s work at the Future Talent Council Summit in Stockholm.

For Abbie, speaking on stage at the summit represented a significant personal achievement. Public speaking had always been a major challenge, particularly due to the impact of dyspraxia and anxiety on her confidence and communication skills. 

“Being able to speak confidently in front of an audience was genuinely life changing. It completely changed how I see myself, and since then I’ve been able to speak up in professional settings in a way I never could before,” she said.

Abbie's willingness to step forward and support others has also made a lasting impression on staff and students within the geography department. 

Head of Department, Geography, Geology and the Environment, Dr Stuart Downward said: “Abbie has been a fantastic student and a terrific supporter of our geography course and student community, always going the extra mile whether at open days, inductions or outreach activities.

“It’s been fantastic to see how much she’s benefited from the opportunities to develop her Future Skills within our course, in particular during the live brief with the John Lewis Partnership. I’m sure the qualities she’s demonstrated will stand her in great stead throughout her career.”

Following pathway into world of work with Future Skills

Alongside the Fellowship, one of the key moments in Abbie’s development came through a Future Skills live brief with the John Lewis Partnership in her second year. It focused on helping UK farms adapt to climate change through innovation, with students from across different Faculties taking part in group tasks, interviews and assessment centre-style activities.

Working on the brief helped Abbie understand how to communicate what she can offer more effectively and gave her a clearer insight into what employers look for during recruitment processes. These lessons became particularly valuable as she explored different career pathways and began applying for graduate roles, with several modules in her third year providing the inspiration to move into the energy sector. 

“These experiences helped me figure out what I did and didn’t want for my career,” she said. “In the job market today, it’s not just about having a degree. It’s about being able to communicate your skills – and Future Skills really helps you do that. I don’t think I’d be the person I am now without it.” 

• Kingston University’s summer graduations will take place from 21 - 30 July. 
• Find out more about how Future Skills prepares students for career success.