The Prospects Luminate Podcast

Charlie Ball: why the UK Standard Skills Classification matters

Welcome to the latest episode of the Prospects Luminate podcast! This is your monthly destination for in-depth conversations about the data, trends and research shaping how we think about early careers, employability, and the graduate labour market in the UK. In this episode, Micha Smith talks to Jisc's labour market expert Charlie Ball about the UK Standard Skills Classification, published by Skills England late in 2025. At the time, Charlie described it as a 'gamechanger', so we thought we'd give him the opportunity to explain why universities, careers advisers, employers and labour market analysts should take particular notice of this development. Find all the latest insights and research on the Prospects Luminate website and sign up to our newsletter for monthly updates: https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk [https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk/] Email editor@luminate.prospects.ac.uk [editor@luminate.prospects.ac.uk] with any comments, suggestions or feedback. View a transcript of this episode here:  www.luminate.prospects.ac.uk/podcast-charlie-ball-why-the-uk-standard-skills-classification-matters [http://www.luminate.prospects.ac.uk/podcast-charlie-ball-why-the-uk-standard-skills-classification-matters] Take a look at the UK Skills Explorer tool: https://skillsclassification.org [https://skillsclassification.org]   Hosts: Micha Smith and Dan Mason, Prospects Luminate Guest: Charlie Ball, head of labour market intelligence, Jisc Prospects Luminate is part of Jisc.

Martin Edmondson: careers services are the engine room

Welcome to the latest episode of the Prospects Luminate podcast! This is your monthly destination for in-depth conversations about the data, trends and research shaping how we think about early careers, employability, and the graduate labour market in the UK. In this episode, Micha Smith talks to Graduate Futures Institute chief executive Martin Edmondson about the organisation's recent rebranding from AGCAS, why careers and employability are now central to a university's success, and how to shine a positive light on higher education in wider society. Find all the latest insights and research on the Prospects Luminate website and sign up to our newsletter for monthly updates: https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk [https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk/] Email editor@luminate.prospects.ac.uk [editor@luminate.prospects.ac.uk] with any comments, suggestions or feedback. View the transcript of this episode here: https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk/podcast-martin-edmondson-careers-services-are-the-engine-room [https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk/podcast-martin-edmondson-careers-services-are-the-engine-room]   Host: Micha Smith, Prospects Luminate Guest: Martin Edmondson, chief executive officer at Graduate Futures Institute. Explore the GFI's new website here: https://www.graduatefutures.org [https://www.graduatefutures.org] Prospects Luminate is part of Jisc.

Neurodiversity in the workplace: tips for inclusive employers

Welcome to episode four of the Prospects Luminate podcast! This is the place to come for in-depth conversations about the data, trends and research shaping how we think about early careers, employability, and the graduate labour market in the UK. In this episode, Micha Smith talks to the founder of the Neurodiversity Network, Claire Kerry, about how employers can make their recruitment processes inclusive for neurodivergent candidates - and why doing so is good for business. He then chats to Chris Barlow, business development associate at Remtek Workplace, about how assistive technologies can remove barriers for neurodivergent employees. Find all the latest insights and research on the Prospects Luminate website and sign up to our newsletter for monthly updates: https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk [https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk/] Email editor@luminate.prospects.ac.uk [editor@luminate.prospects.ac.uk] with any comments, suggestions or feedback. View the transcript of this episode here: https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk/podcast-neurodiversity-in-the-workplace-tips-for-inclusive-employers [https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk/podcast-neurodiversity-in-the-workplace-tips-for-inclusive-employers] Host: Micha Smith, Prospects Luminate Guests: Claire Kerry, Neurodiversity Network, and Chris Barlow, Remtek Workplace Prospects Luminate is part of Jisc.

Tackling degree fraud in the age of AI

Welcome to the third episode of the Prospects Luminate podcast! This is the place to come for in-depth conversations about the data, trends and research shaping how we think about early careers, employability, and the graduate labour market in the UK. In this episode, Chris Rea, head of strategic relationships & Hedd at Prospects, talks about degree fraud - explaining how the problem has evolved, the role that AI is increasingly playing in fraudulent job applications, and how graduate employers can protect themselves and genuine candidates. Visit Hedd to find out more at hedd.ac.uk [http://hedd.ac.uk] Find all the latest insights and research on the Prospects Luminate website and sign up to our newsletter for monthly updates: https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk [https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk/] Email editor@luminate.prospects.ac.uk [editor@luminate.prospects.ac.uk] with any comments, suggestions or feedback. View the transcript of this episode here: https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk/podcast-tackling-degree-fraud-in-the-age-of-ai [https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk/podcast-tackling-degree-fraud-in-the-age-of-ai]  Host: Micha Smith, Prospects Luminate Guest: Chris Rea, Prospects Prospects Luminate is part of Jisc.

International students: telling their stories through photography

Welcome to the second episode of the Prospects Luminate podcast! This is the place to come for in-depth conversations about the data, trends and research shaping how we think about early careers, employability, and the graduate labour market in the UK. In this episode, Anna Levett - associate director, career development & head of careers and employment at the University of Hertfordshire - talks about her innovative photovoice project that gave international students in the UK the chance to express their feelings on job-searching. You can read the report in full here: https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk/international-students-seeking-employment-within-the-uk-a-photovoice-project [https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk/international-students-seeking-employment-within-the-uk-a-photovoice-project]  Find all the latest insights and research on the Prospects Luminate website and sign up to our newsletter for monthly updates: https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk [https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk/] Email editor@luminate.prospects.ac.uk [editor@luminate.prospects.ac.uk] with any comments, suggestions or feedback. View the transcript of this episode here: https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk/podcast-international-students-telling-their-stories-through-photography [https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk/podcast-international-students-telling-their-stories-through-photography]  Hosts: Dan Mason and Micha Smith, Prospects Luminate Guest: Anna Levett, University of Hertfordshire Prospects Luminate is part of Jisc.