University celebrates collaboration with Halo for student opportunities

A new partnership between the University of Suffolk and Suffolk-based tech giant Halo has begun – with plans for a host of collaborative opportunities in the future.

Six apprentices from the firm started in September on the Level 6 Project Manager degree apprenticeship, a programme which combines academic study with paid employment, and develops learners with the skills, knowledge and behaviours to successfully deliver complex projects.

The three-year degree apprenticeship programme works with learners to cover a breadth of project management practices, including planning, governance, finance, risk, leadership and strategic decision making.

The apprenticeships are among the first steps for a wider partnership between the two organisations, which are both key employers in the region. It also comes shortly after the publication of the university’s new strategy to 2031, which includes a focus on strengthening employer partnerships, expanding work-integrated learning and supporting long-term regional skills development as part of its ‘engagement’ strand.

Professor Jenny Higham, University of Suffolk Vice-Chancellor, said: “We’re incredibly proud to partner with Halo, and the business’s move to the Willis Building in Ipswich presents a tremendous opportunity for our two organisations to align on a host of collaborative endeavours which will boost skills development in our region.

“Halo is well known for championing graduates, investing in young talent, and by collaborating now we can ensure we can deliver their future skills needs while providing excellent opportunities for our students and graduates to work with a distinguished name with global reach in the technology sector.”

Halo has already worked with second-year BA (Hons) Business Management students on a module around consultancy, where students were given a live brief by Halo on an incubator project for emerging entrepreneurs and the students had to act as consultants.

The students were able to pitch their ideas on identifying and recruiting entrepreneurs, as well as support systems and financial models for the incubator project, learning from valuable feedback by the company.

Halo is due to return next year to work with this year’s second-year students on the module.

In addition, students and alumni on the Digital Film Production course worked with Halo to produce two short documentary films featuring a local DJ who performed at Halo Festival in the summer, as well as capturing live video content across the festival stages to give students experience working alongside live outdoor broadcast teams.

Meanwhile, second-year BA (Hons) Graphic Design and Graphic Illustration students were invited to develop visual identity pitches to Halo for the 2027 Halo Festival, with the students collaborating in teams to create and pitch their designs for their module in professional practice.

The students presented initial concepts, responded to client feedback and refined their work before pitching directly to Halo, considering elements such as typography, imagery, colour palettes, tone of voice, and promotional applications.

The tie-up provided valuable experience for the students in working to a professional design brief, incorporating edits and working with clients.

Halo moved into its new base in the Willis Building in Ipswich at the end of September, and has been a staunch advocate for graduate opportunities with plans to employ 1,000 graduates in Ipswich by the end of 2030.

Halo Founder and Chief Executive, Paul Hamilton, said: “'We are delighted to welcome our first 2026 degree apprentice cohort, and Halo is excited to partner with the University of Suffolk on a scheme that we hope will be incredibly rewarding for the degree apprentices.

“There were some fantastic collaborations with the University of Suffolk in the last academic year, including Halo case studies being implemented onto university modules across a number of courses. We are looking forward to exploring additional collaborations going forwards, and having our HQ in Ipswich will be ideal for expanding how we can work together.''

Marek Hornak, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Commercial and Academic Partnerships at the University of Suffolk, said: “The University of Suffolk’s partnerships with employers are an important part of our commitment to ensure we are delivering the skills needs for key industries.

“The expansion of our degree apprenticeships has been a significant part of this, so it is a pleasure to collaborate with Halo as one of our partners on the Level 6 Project Manager programme.

“Halo is undergoing exciting developments, including the move to its new home in Ipswich, and as two organisations deeply embedded within Suffolk and the wider region, we are well aligned on our shared goal of offering upskilling opportunities and developing the skills of young people in our communities.”

The university works with important employers in the region on a wealth of opportunities, including apprenticeships, student placements, internships, research, knowledge exchange activities and guest lectures, with organisations spanning sectors as diverse as business, health and social care, technology, local government, clean energy, charitable organisations, facilities management and the creative industries.

To find out how your business could get involved with the university, head to the webpage here.

To find out more about degree and degree apprenticeship opportunities, head to the webpage here.

For more information about Halo, visit the website here.