39. Smarter, fairer, faster: How AI is redefining graduate hiring | James Uffindell

Most graduates leave university with a degree but little direction, but how do you figure out what to do with your life, and how do you actually get your foot in the door? In this week’s episode of All About Business , the founder of Bright Network James Uffindell shares the full journey. From his first venture helping students access top universities, to scaling Bright Network into one of the UK's leading platforms for connecting talent with opportunity. From a working-class upbringing in Warwickshire to founding Bright Network, a tech-driven platform used by over a million students, James has spent his career solving the problems he once faced himself. James talks about the crisis that led to their biggest innovation, how they scaled an internship program to 150,000 students, AI, data, understanding Gen Z behavior, and what employers really want when they say they’re looking for passion and resilience. If you’re building a startup, thinking about purpose, or wondering how to turn experience into impact, this episode is for you. James’s story is proof that you don’t have to come from the right family or know the right people, but you do need to listen, adapt, and keep showing up. 02:51 James Uffindell's background and inspiration 04:10 Building Bright Network 08:04 The importance of internships 11:52 Personalisation and data utilization 24:05 Impact of AI on job market 36:55 The importance of office environments for young professionals 39:31 The Bright Network platform and its benefits 41:23 AI in recruitment and business growth 51:03 Diversity and inclusion in the job market 59:38 Future plans and expansion Check out Bright Network’s website: Follow Bright Network on LinkedIn: Follow James Reed on LinkedIn All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at Reed.com This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk