James Reed: all about business 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
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