World of Business 
World of Digital 
World of Media 
World of Sport 
Class of 92 legend and UA92 co-founder Gary Neville has invited today’s undergraduates to adopt the same mindset that powered Manchester United’s golden generation, to help them stand out in an increasingly competitive graduate employment landscape.
Speaking on behalf of UA92 at UCAS Discovery Manchester in a live Q&A, with current Sports Journalism student Amelia Berry, Gary said the values that defined his career – character, resilience and a relentless work ethic – are now exactly what employers are looking for beyond academic attainment.
“I have this saying, and we used to have it at Manchester United, where we’d say to people you need to be stretched and not stressed,” he told students. “Think of it like an elastic band. You’ve got to keep stretching so you get the very best out of yourself.”
Drawing a direct parallel between elite sport and working life, he added: “Similar to my career, when we lost, we got knocked down and when we won, we were a little bit higher. But the best teams are the ones that can remain level-headed and sensible in defeat and in victory… That’s how you develop your personality, your character, your resilience and your robustness to make sure you can cope with everything that comes your way as you move into working life and the job that you want.”
Gary made clear that in a crowded graduate market, technical ability alone is no longer sufficient.
“Your CV will be similar to many others,” he said, adding that employers now recruit as much for mindset as capability: “You’re in the room because you can do the job. What sets you apart is the attitude you bring.”
At UA92, those principles, that made the Class of 92 one of the most successful football teams of all time, are embedded into the student experience through the 92 Programme, built into every degree, tailored to each subject area, and are credit-bearing, meaning students must fulfil the requirements to graduate.
The 92 Programme focuses on character and personal development, professional behaviours and industry exposure from the first term, building adaptive life skills such as self-awareness, leadership and professionalism. Alongside structured taught sessions and focus days, guest lecturers and sector specialists share lessons, breakthroughs and behind‑the‑scenes perspectives from years of experience in the field. Students can also make the most of 1:1 or small‑group coaching sessions to discuss progress, build confidence and receive feedback.
It comes as recent reports highlight growing challenges for graduates entering the jobs market, with advertised entry level and graduate roles tightening and competition rising across sectors.
Employers are increasingly prioritising workplace readiness and professional behaviours, with 76%* reporting difficulty recruiting skilled talent, with the most sought-after transferable skills cited as reliability, resilience, critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving.
While many traditional universities concentrate primarily on academic attainment, UA92 was created to equip students not just with subject knowledge but with the character development, resilience and emotional intelligence skills employers cite as critical in early career success.
Gary closed the Q&A sharing the best piece of professional advice he has ever received and the one message he hopes will be remembered.
“Don’t look back and wish you could have done more… Make sure you do your very best in everything you do.”
*Data taken from ManPowerGroup’s 2025 Talent Shortage Survey.
