Empower FAQs

The Empower Scheme has been created to enable students to gain confidence, be powerful and be themselves. It is open to all students with protected characteristics/marginalised groups or from lower-socio economic backgrounds (sometimes referred to as Widening Participation students). We can particularly support students who are: 

• First in family to attend university
• From an area where not many people go onto higher education
• Disabled (including neurodivergence and mental health) 
• Mature 
• LGBTQ+ 
• Black, Asian and other minority ethnicity heritages 
• Care-experienced 

The Empower team can support you from a career development perspective or refer you on to relevant services within the university (or externally, as needed). 

You can book an appointment at careers.kent.ac.uk or send us an email to empower@kent.ac.uk or phone 01227 823 299.   

You can find some opportunities on our Empower Opportunities Board. You can also find more opportunities on Target Connect, or meet with the Empower team to discuss options.

We recommend visiting kent.ac.uk/go-abroad/study-abroad

For information on study support please visit www.kent.ac.uk/student-learning-advisory-service/appointments 

If you need help with getting an ILP contact Student Support and Wellbeing (SSW). 

The Empower Scheme can help you with: 

• Finding Disability Confident employers 
• Asking employers for reasonable adjustments 
• Bringing your whole self to work, with confidence 

Book an Empower appointment at careers.kent.ac.uk

The decisions you make regarding sharing information about your disability will be unique to your situation. You are the expert and understand your needs better than anyone else.

You are protected by the Equality Act 2010, which requires employers to provide reasonable adjustments to accommodate your needs.

Look for the Disability Confident symbol on job advertisements. Recruiters using the symbol guarantee interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum job requirements.

Sharing positive examples and transferable skills related to your disability can be really advantageous, especially when responding to competency questions. For example, you could demonstrate how you have developed your resilience by overcoming challenges.

Sharing your disability with an employer may provide comfort, knowing that you have been transparent throughout the application process.

There are support schemes available such as Access to Work. Reach out to Student Support and Wellbeing for assistance.

If you have more questions you are welcome to contact us at empower@kent.ac.uk