Connecting Richmond's Students to Richmond's Future
Richmond Talent and Industry Program
The Talent & Industry Program connects Richmond-area students with local businesses and industries through meaningful, structured engagement opportunities.
Rather than waiting until graduation to connect students with employers, the program builds relationships throughout a student’s educational journey. Students gain firsthand knowledge of local careers and businesses, while employers develop relationships with the future workforce.
The goal is simple: connect talent with opportunity and help build the next generation of Richmond’s workforce.
How it Works
The program uses a tiered engagement model, allowing businesses to participate at different levels based on their workforce needs and capacity.
Explore → Engage → Experience → Employ
1. Explore
Students learn about local industries, careers, and the businesses that make Richmond’s economy work.
2. Engage
Employers connect directly with students through career fairs, classroom visits, presentations, and other educational activities.
3. Experience
Students gain hands-on exposure through projects, job shadowing, internships, company visits, and other real-world experiences.
4. Employ
Relationships developed throughout a student's education can lead to internships, employment opportunities, and long-term careers in Richmond.
For Employers
Your future employees are already in our schools and universities.
The Talent & Industry Program gives local employers a structured way to engage with students and introduce them to their industry, company, and career opportunities.
Employers can:
- Build an early talent pipeline
- Introduce students to their industry
- Participate in classroom and career events
- Provide real-world projects and experiences
- Host facility tours and job-shadowing opportunities
- Develop relationships with students before graduation
- Increase awareness of local career opportunities
Invest in students today. Build your workforce for tomorrow.
For Students
Your next career may be closer than you think.
The Talent & Industry Program gives students opportunities to meet local employers, explore career paths, develop professional relationships, and gain real-world experience before graduation.
Students can:
- Explore local career opportunities
- Meet Richmond-area employers
- Visit local businesses and facilities
- Participate in career fairs and industry events
- Work on real-world business projects
- Develop professional connections
- Discover internships and job opportunities
Your education is the beginning. Your career starts with a connection.
A Program Built Around Relationships
One of the program's defining features is its emphasis on long-term relationships.
Instead of treating workforce development as a single career fair or recruitment event, the Talent & Industry Program creates opportunities for students and employers to interact repeatedly throughout a student's education.
Student → Employer → Experience → Relationship → Career
This creates a more connected workforce ecosystem where students understand the opportunities available locally and employers have opportunities to develop relationships with future talent.
The Future of Richmond's Workforce Starts Here
Richmond's greatest economic asset is its people.
By connecting students with local employers early and often, the Talent & Industry Program helps create stronger career pathways, a more informed workforce, and deeper connections between education and industry.
Together, we can create opportunities for students to learn, businesses to grow, and talent to stay in Richmond.
