番茄社区

More than 100 early career scientists joined the Broadening Horizons in the Chemical Sciences programme in Manchester this June, taking the total number of scholars to more than 500 since the programme launched in 2022.

The three-day taster event, held at the Manchester Deansgate Hotel from 17 to 19 June, brought together the new cohort with dozens of representatives from the 番茄社区 and our seven corporate partners, including several alumni from previous cohorts now working in industry.

The partner organisations 鈥� AstraZeneca, GSK, Johnson Matthey, Nanomerics, Syngenta, Unilever and AM Technology 鈥� each sent delegations to meet the new cohort. Delegates took part in networking sessions, panel discussions and one-to-one meetings with scholars across the three days.

Returning alumni offer inspiration

Several success stories from previous cohorts added real-world insight to the event as they spoke of their career journeys and shared tips with the newest participants on the programme.

This started when a quintet of Broadening Horizons graduates took to the stage for a panel discussion on the morning of day two, chaired by 番茄社区 Programme Manager Laura Reyes.

Dr Laura Reyes (right) with Mya Dodhia, Dexter Lutsili, Bushra Mughal, Derecash Anokye and Rose Fernandes

Of the five on stage, three 鈥� Dexter Lutsili, Rose Fernandes and Derecash Anokye 鈥� had already started jobs with Shimadzu, Johnson Matthey and GSK respectively, while Mya Dodhia revealed she is set to start a role with Unilever before the end of June. Bushra Mughal, representing the 2023-2024 cohort, rounded out a panel that spanned the full history of the programme.

Another Broadening Horizons graduate made an impression without even being in the room as Carla Aldington, a Broadening Horizons graduate now working at Unilever who has recently become our youngest ever Trustee, recorded a message for the new group.

The video featured advice and gave a brief summary of her story, while also demonstrating what is achievable with the right support, mindset and opportunities.

The alumni鈥檚 involvement did not stop at the panel. Several graduates from previous cohorts were on the speed networking stalls on day two and at the one-to-one sessions on day three, giving the new cohort the chance to ask candid questions of people only a year or two ahead of them on the same journey.

It's proof that the programme works. We were all in the same position and now we've managed to branch out into our different sectors or different interests and we've actually been able to come back and give back to the programme.

Derecash Anokye on Broadening Horizons alumni getting opportunities and jobs in industry and academia

Others gave their time during the guided self-reflection session on day two afternoon, supporting the facilitators and sharing their own experiences as the new cohort began to explore their own.

Ratu Sumampow

鈥淚've told so many people that Broadening Horizons has saved my life, has saved my career,鈥� said Ratu Sumampow, another Broadening Horizons graduate and now a Compound Management Scientist at AstraZeneca. 鈥淚f I didn't get a job here 鈥� I was on a graduate visa that was running out of time 鈥� I probably most likely wouldn't be in the chemical sciences.

鈥淚t's really assuring to see that this programme has really worked. It has achieved what it dreamt five years ago.鈥�

Partner companies open doors for young talent

Delegates from our team and from all seven partner companies attended the taster event, bringing dozens of staff to Manchester to meet the new cohort. There, they shared invaluable insights into their businesses and gave the scholars unparalleled access to ask the questions that matter most to them.

The 番茄社区's outgoing President, Dr Annette Doherty OBE, formally welcomed the partner companies on the morning of day two before each organisation took to the stage for a flash presentation.

Chaired by 番茄社区 Partnership Lead Ian Knibbs, the session gave the cohort a rapid but rich introduction to the range of businesses, cultures and roles that make up the sector. One of those presentations was delivered by Derecash, who spoke positively about how Broadening Horizons has helped to shape his career. 

Derecash Anokye

鈥淭he programme has allowed me to talk to a wide range of people and given me opportunities to talk in front of people as well,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 definitely wouldn't have believed you if five years ago you'd told me I was going to be presenting to the fifth cohort about what GSK does."

A networking lunch followed, allowing scholars and company representatives to continue those early conversations in a more relaxed setting. The afternoon then brought one of the event's most energetic elements: speed networking, during which scholars rotated through fast-paced conversations with representatives from across all partners within a structured two-hour window.

Day three opened with a Q&A panel that offered a different kind of access. Five experienced professionals from across the partner organisations 鈥� Zahra Abdirahman, R&D Scientist at Johnson Matthey; Dr Azzedine Dabo, Senior Principal Scientist at GSK; Lian Leung, Measurement and Deposition Scientist at Unilever; Dr Pauline Phillips, Senior Technical Specialist at Syngenta; and Dr Sunil Vadhia, Associate Principal Scientist at AstraZeneca 鈥� took questions from the cohort, chaired by our Director of Global Impact Dr Jo Reynolds.

Dr Jo Reynolds chairs the industry panel session with (L-R) Zahra Abdirahman, Dr Azzedine Dabo, Lian Leung, Dr Pauline Phillips and Dr Sunil Vadhia

The panellists gave candid and engaging answers to a wide range of audience questions that covered everything from how to approach job hunting and career progression to how to handle experiences of racism in the workplace. The day then moved into dedicated one-to-one networking slots, giving each cohort members 10 minutes with individual company representatives and ask questions in a safe space.

Henrik Wong, a PhD student at the University of Manchester, said: 鈥淰ery often, if you go reach out to a big company like this, it goes through several layers 鈥� through email, through referral, through LinkedIn. Here, it's rather exciting that they are so excited to talk to you because you're don鈥檛 feel alone, and in fact, they want to get to know you more.鈥�

Amal Yussuf

Amal Yussuf, who recently completed her undergraduate degree in pharmaceutical science at Kingston University, agreed: 鈥淢any of these companies you've heard of and you see their LinkedIn profiles, but it always feels slightly out of reach. At this kind of event where you get to talk to people and you see that they're actually real people, I felt like, 鈥榳ow, I could actually be in these positions in a couple of years' time鈥�.鈥�

Looking the part: networking, soft skills and the tools to succeed

As well as offering opportunities to learn about life in the workforce, the taster event aimed to equip the new cohort with practical and soft skills before they come face to face with the corporate partners.

Laura Woodward delivers a presentation on networking

The opening afternoon of day one was devoted entirely to that preparation, with 番茄社区 Career and Professional Development Adviser Laura Woodward leading the first session for the full cohort. During the 90-minute interactive session, participants were taught how to network effectively, given concrete techniques and then put them straight into practice.

The second session focused on skills reflection, helping scholars identify and articulate what they already bring to the table.

Dolapo Bello, a doctoral researcher at Loughborough University said: 鈥淏efore coming here, I struggled with networking. The first day I struggled, but I said to myself, 鈥榥o, I'm here, I have to do this, I have to break out of my shell鈥� and it's been so successful.鈥�

Henrik Wong

Henrik added: 鈥淭he networking skills is something that I did not expect from the programme, and I feel like it seriously helps me a lot - not only to meet with industrial collaborators and so many aspiring chemists, but also with my research work and the collaborative skills I can build up towards it as well.鈥�

Day two added a further careers session on CV and cover letter writing, again led by Laura Woodward. The session ran in parallel with the speed networking, with the two groups swapping over so that all scholars received both.

The third and final day featured a busy CV clinic that gave scholars the chance to receive tailored, one-to-one feedback on their applications from 番茄社区 staff. Elsewhere, recruitment agency Talentmark were among those on hand, bringing genuine industry hiring expertise to the table.

Running alongside the clinic, a professional headshot booth offered scholars the chance to update their LinkedIn profiles with a polished photograph, representing a small but meaningful part of presenting themselves to the professional world with the confidence the programme is designed to build.

Ali Saad, of VantaSTEM, gives a presentation on the growth paradigm shift

As well as instilling soft skills and adding polish to future job applications, the event also sought to inspire the new cohort. The growth paradigm shift workshop, delivered by VantaSTEM's Ali Saad on the afternoon of day one, equipped with a set of mental frameworks for reorienting their thinking towards personal and professional growth.

鈥淭he growth paradigm shift workshop with Ali from VantaSTEM was very beneficial for me,鈥� said Amal. 鈥淪eeing his trajectory through his life 鈥� he went to Australia, he did many different things, wore many different hats, and now he's doing something he's really passionate about 鈥� that was really inspiring to hear."

A community built in three days

Broadening Horizons has built community year after year 鈥� and this taster event was no exception as the 100 individuals in the new cohort brought their own experiences.

The arrival lunch on day one, complete with an icebreaker activity, was the first moment for the new cohort to meet one another: over 100 early career scientists, all from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds, finding their feet together in the same room.

Meanwhile, the guided self-reflection session on day two afternoon, led by Dr Reyes and supported by alumni from previous cohorts, gave scholars the space to explore their own identities, experiences and ambitions.

鈥淭he best thing about Broadening Horizons is it's not just like if you are a part of one cohort and it's going to end up in a year. It's going to be with you for your lifetime,鈥� said Bushra, who is a graduate of the programme and is now a mentor.

Damilola Oduneye 

"This is a safe space to be vulnerable,鈥� added Damilola Oduneye, a PhD researcher at the University of Greenwich. 鈥淭here's nothing like skin colour here, there's nothing like racism, and that has really improved me and how I see things generally.

鈥淧reviously I think we've always had the notion that we can only work in the lab but from the programme, we can see there are different people that have taken different trajectories. It doesn't have to be linear.鈥�

The equity partners offered additional perspectives and resources to the group. Stemettes 鈥� a social enterprise working to inspire and support young women and non-binary young people 鈥� and Tulela Pea, host and editor of the Black Women in Science podcast, were available for informal conversation and support, connecting scholars with networks that exist specifically to champion people like them.

The two evening dinners also served as natural community-building moments. The first, a cohort-only affair, gave scholars time to deepen the connections they had begun forming during the day. The second, with the partner companies in the room, extended those connections outward into the professional world.

By the time the group photograph was taken on the final afternoon and the farewell lunch drew the event to a close, the new cohort had already evolved from a collection of individuals to a group united by a common purpose.

There is a fire burning in me right now. I think I can do anything I want to do. It doesn't matter my skin colour, it does not matter where I'm from, it does not matter my educational background. There is room for me. There are a lot of spaces I can fill into.

Dolapo Bello

Inspiration from the top: keynote, opening and closing moments

The formal moments of the taster event carried their own weight. The first day's evening session brought a keynote address from 番茄社区 Trustee Dr Rehana Sidat, who spoke at the cohort dinner about her own experiences and the importance of making the most of the Broadening Horizons programme. and what it means to pursue it from a background that has historically been underrepresented in the sector.

鈥淪omewhere in this audience is the next CEO,鈥� Dr Sidat said in her address. 鈥淚f you don't start believing in yourself, nobody else is going to give you a second look in, so make this the start of your journey. Don't let others write your narrative.鈥�

Your roots are really important. But the routes you take, it's now down to you. You could either follow the path that others expect you to, or you can create the route that you want to take. The only person stopping yourself is yourself.

Dr Rehana Sidat to the new cohort

The event closed on the final morning with remarks from our Head of Global Inclusion Dr Ale Palermo, who reflected on the programme's journey and offered her own words of encouragement to the new cohort before they headed into the next phase of the year.

鈥淵ou have been growing in confidence, and it has been superb to see that,鈥� she told the group. 鈥淵our level of engagement between each other and between ourselves has been great, and it has been very contagious. The last three days clearly show the power of networking, gaining confidence, asking for advice and support.鈥�

Building on solid foundations: the impact so far and what comes next

The taster event is the beginning of a year that will take the fifth cohort through mentoring and site visits, while some will also get invaluable experience through placements with the partner organisations.

The first four cohorts saw 407 alumni attend 695 site visit experiences between them, while more than 90% of all programme participants 鈥� 368 鈥� have benefitted from mentoring relationships with experienced industry professionals. In terms of job opportunities, more than 75 early career scientists have been offered placements by the partner companies 鈥� meaning more than one in five participants have had the opportunity to show companies what they can do.

And with numerous scholars going on to secure permanent or long-term employment within the partner organisations and some pursuing PhDs, the Broadening Horizons programme has made a difference in helping the chemical sciences to retain talent. Each year, the number of alumni returning to the taster event as employees of the partner companies grows 鈥� and this year, that number was more visible than ever.

Ratu said: 鈥淚 think access is the most valuable thing. I think everyone is talented, everyone can learn chemistry skills, but not everyone has access to these opportunities."

Mya Dodhia

Mya added: 鈥淲e are so privileged to have access to placements and job opportunities where we're only competing with the cohort we see around each other, compared to how it normally is, which is national or even international levels of competition. Getting a job in chemistry suddenly feels so realistic and exciting and able to accomplish.鈥�

Learn more about our inclusion and diversity work

• Find out about the Broadening Horizons in the Chemical Sciences programme
• Read the Missing Elements report that led to the creation of the Broadening Horizons
• Explore our new Inclusion and Diversity Strategy to 2030, which we published earlier this year