Employer Advisory Panel

We work with employers to make sure our courses reflect the skills, knowledge and ways of working students will meet in today’s business environment. Our Employer Advisory Panel includes members from organisations such as BBC Studios, Marsh Industries UK, TK Talent Group and Ambition, and helps shape curriculum content and assessment so learning stays relevant, practical and connected to industry.

Co-created Curriculum and Student Experiences

Courses are designed with input from subject specialists and employers through our Employer Advisory Panel. This helps us keep them relevant, rigorous and responsive to change. Students will learn through applied, practical activity, including real business scenarios, collaborative work and tasks that build confidence in using digital tools and working in modern organisations.

Students will take part in group projects and practical tasks that reflect professional life, from presentations to reflective work on leadership and development. Beyond the classroom, they may also benefit from employer-led masterclasses, mentoring and links with professional bodies. Our partnerships with employers also support guest speakers, live briefs and work experience opportunities, helping students see how their learning connects to future careers.

We will keep reviewing employer feedback and labour market information so our courses continue to meet changing industry needs and support strong work-based learning opportunities.

The message from employers is simple: graduates should leave Bridge ready to contribute from day one.

Employer Advisory Panel Members

Allyson Stewart-Allen (Chair)

CEO and Founder, International Marketing Partners Limited

Allyson is an internationally recognised marketing and international business advisor, author, educator, speaker, broadcaster and non-executive director with more than 35 years’ experience supporting transatlantic business growth. She advises senior executives and boards, helping organisations expand internationally and strengthen commercial performance. Her earlier consulting roles with PwC, PA Consulting Group and Hay Group built deep expertise across diverse sectors. Allyson has worked with over 260 clients in 48 cities across 27 countries and is recognised in Cranfield’s Female FTSE 100 Women to Watch. MBA educated under the guidance of Peter Drucker, she speaks fluent French and contributes to global business thought leadership.

Nicky Acuña Ocaña

Regional Managing Director US, UK & Europe at Ambition

With over 25 years of experience leading high-performing recruitment teams, Nicky Acuña Ocaña is a dynamic leader in the recruitment industry. As Regional Managing Director for the US, UK, and Europe at Ambition, she oversees a team of specialist recruiters dedicated to connecting top talent with professional services firms. Her teams focus on niche areas: the US division specialises in Legal Marketing & Business Development recruitment, while the UK & Europe team excels in placing professionals within Business Services functions within Legal, Practice and Consultancy. Passionate about Allyship, Belonging and Inclusion (ABI) and talent retention, Nicky is a sought-after keynote speaker. She frequently presents at industry conferences, sharing insights on recruitment trends, hiring strategies, retention best practices, and ABI in the workplace.

Emma-Jane Hendry

Director of Business Development, BBC Studios

Emma-Jane Hendry is an accomplished business leader with over twenty years of experience in the global media and entertainment sector. She serves as Director of Business Development at BBC Studios, leading International News Distribution and Streaming Partnerships to drive commercial growth and strengthen the BBC’s global presence. Her career includes senior roles at Microsoft, 20th Century Fox and Rakuten TV, delivering strategies in digital innovation, partnerships and market expansion. Beyond corporate leadership, she serves on the boards of UN Women UK and Frensham Heights Educational Trust, advises Make-A-Wish Foundation, and champions gender equity across media.

Wojciech Ilowski

Marsh UK Industries - Strategy and Transformation Leader

Wojciech is the Industries Strategy and Transformation Leader for Marsh, a global professional services firm specialising in strategy, risk and people. He is responsible for the industry-led go-to-market strategy in the UK. With 15 years’ experience operating at board level across complex global and local organisations, he has led end-to-end transformation programmes in the risk and insurance sector across multiple geographies and cultures. His earlier career included operational and licensing roles in the global technology sector. Passionate about education and social mobility, he serves as trustee of the Education and Training Foundation, governor at New City College, and member of BITC’s London Leadership Board.

Kristien Turner

CEO & Founder of TK Talent Group

Kristien Turner is a workforce and organisational strategy leader with more than two decades of experience helping institutions align talent, culture and reputation. He's led global workforce and skills strategies, supported the hiring of more than 60,000 professionals, and delivered award-winning employer branding campaigns, including at HSBC. He also led graduate and internship programmes across America and built pathways from education into employment. As CEO and Founder of TK Talent, he advises global organisations on talent, leadership and skills. He holds a Master’s degree in Organisational Psychology from Harvard University.