Building Career Pathways: Warwick and NatWest’s Commitment to Student Employability
The Innovation Fellows programme here at the University of Warwick offers hands-on industry experience at a time when both student work placements and graduate jobs are increasingly competitive.
Image 1 & 2: D’Nette Lewis and Arthur Duke
As graduate job opportunities become more competitive and employers increasingly prioritise real-world experience, Warwick Innovation District is strengthening its commitment to student employability through its Innovation Fellows programme. This academic year, a new initiative with NatWest sees two Innovation Fellows working directly with NatWest.
Each year, Warwick Enterprise, part of Warwick Innovation District, selects a cohort of five to ten Innovation Fellows from across the University of Warwick’s student community. Open to both undergraduate and postgraduate students from all degree programmes, the programme is designed to remove traditional barriers to industry experience by offering paid, hands-on roles that do not require prior experience in entrepreneurship or innovation.
This academic year marks a new milestone in Warwick’s partnership with NatWest, with two Innovation Fellows working directly within the NatWest Accelerator at the University of Warwick. Through the programme, students gain first-hand exposure to early-stage businesses, founders and SMEs, developing practical skills and making connections that are increasingly difficult to acquire through traditional graduate pathways alone.
David Plumb, Chief Innovation Officer at Warwick Innovation District, said:
“At a time when students are seeking meaningful, applied experience, and employers value adaptability above all, this Fellowship offers an exceptional opportunity. It equips them to graduate with confidence, creativity, and a deep understanding of how innovation happens in the real world.”
The 2025/26 Innovation Fellows, D’Nette Lewis, a second-year Design and Global Sustainable Development student, and Arthur Duke, a Master’s student in International Business, will work closely with the NatWest Accelerator team to support founders, deliver events and contribute to innovation activity on campus.
Pam Sheemar, Regional Accelerator Director at NatWest, added:
“The University of Warwick Accelerator is the first university-based initiative of its kind for the NatWest Accelerator – a springboard for collaboration with other higher education institutions. It symbolises effective partnership and leads the way in line with the university’s strategy. We are proud and passionate about unlocking and building triple-helix partnerships that enable growth.”
Reflecting on her experience, Innovation Fellow D’Nette Lewis shared:
“This experience will allow me to build valuable networking and logistical thinking skills while working alongside ambitious entrepreneurs. The accelerator programme offers an incredible opportunity to develop systems design thinking, practical business acumen, understand the challenges of scaling ventures, and forge connections with industry leaders and fellow innovators.”
Reflecting on his role, Innovation Fellow Arthur Duke said:
“I’m excited by the strengthened partnership that has brought a greater NatWest presence to campus. Over the past year, I met my mentor, Adam Walters, the NatWest Accelerator Manager, and was struck by how energising his leadership is. His background in supporting founders and scaling early-stage businesses made the opportunity to work more closely with him and the Accelerator team especially compelling. This role gives me first-hand exposure to founders putting their ideas into practice and is helping me build the professional experience that will support my future career in finance and innovation.”
By placing students at the centre of a fast-evolving innovation ecosystem, the Innovation Fellows programme helps bridge the gap between academic study and employment, while supporting the growth of early-stage businesses across the region.
