From placement to pipeline: How RGU talent powers industry

For Aberdeen-based IT consultancy Core 29, that pipeline has become a vital part of its growth strategy. With longstanding links to the University, the company has seen firsthand how RGU students transition seamlessly from placement to permanent roles, bringing both technical capability and commercial awareness into the workplace.

A partnership that delivers

Core 29’s Managing Director, Alan Dick, plays an active role in shaping future talent as a member of the Industry Board for RGU’s School of Computing, Engineering and Technology. Through initiatives such as RGUHack and placement opportunities, the business engages early with students - identifying potential, building relationships and opening doors to careers.

“It gives us the opportunity to work with somebody at an early stage in their development… and a heads up on people we may have an opportunity for in the future.”

This early engagement creates mutual value. Students gain meaningful, real-world experience, while employers develop a deeper understanding of emerging talent - often before roles are even available.

More than a degree

At Core 29, placements aren’t a standalone experience - they are embedded into a wider journey from education to employment. Students contribute to live projects, develop practical skills and, in many cases, carry that experience forward into their final-year work and beyond.

“It’s not just academic achievement - it’s about what else students bring. Have they taken opportunities to develop their skills?”

This emphasis on applied learning - through placements, projects and extracurricular activity - ensures RGU graduates leave with more than knowledge. They graduate with confidence, adaptability and the ability to make an immediate impact.

A proven model for employer confidence

For businesses like Core 29, this model reduces risk and accelerates recruitment success. When opportunities arise, RGU is often the first place they look.

“When we do have vacancies, I try and make it so that we can go to RGU first.”

It’s a clear endorsement of a university that doesn’t just prepare students for work - it integrates them into it.

Award-winning, outcome-proven

This employer confidence is underpinned by national recognition. RGU has been named Higher Educational Institution of the Year (Herald Awards 2026) and is ranked #1 in Scotland for Graduate Prospects (on track), as well as Top Modern University in Scotland (Complete University Guide 2027).

These accolades reflect a consistent focus on outcomes: graduates who are equipped to succeed, and employers who see real value in hiring them.

Powering the future workforce

As RGU continues its ambition to become the UK’s leading work-integrated university by 2030, partnerships like Core 29 demonstrate the tangible impact of its approach - transforming education into opportunity, and potential into performance.

For graduating students, this is a message of confidence: your experience matters, and your skills are in demand.

For employers, the message is clear: RGU offers access to a pipeline of talent ready to contribute from day one.

Connect with RGU talent

Join organisations like Core 29 who are already benefiting from an award-winning, industry-connected university.

Get in touch with RGU’s Employability Team to access career-ready graduates and build your future workforce.

Finding Talent