From candidate to colleague: how GradCon Cymru helped JCP Solicitors find its next rising star

29 July 2026

Mared Jones

When Emma James, People and Culture Advisor at JCP Solicitors, attended GradCon Cymru last year, she wasn’t simply there to hand out leaflets. She was there to have meaningful conversations with the students and graduates who visited the firm’s stand.

One of those conversations has since led to a new member joining the JCP team.

“GradCon is a fantastic opportunity to meet so many talented and ambitious graduates from across South Wales,” said Emma. “It is encouraging to speak with individuals who are beginning to explore their career options and are eager to apply the skills and knowledge they have gained through their studies.

“At JCP Solicitors, we are passionate about supporting early career talent and helping graduates build rewarding, long-term careers. Events like GradCon play an important role in connecting graduates with employers and showcasing the wide range of opportunities available to them.”

That graduate was Alex Thomas, who is now a Graduate Legal Assistant at JCP Solicitors and on the pathway to qualifying as a solicitor.

For Alex, the opportunity to speak directly with the firm made a far greater impression than simply reading about it online.

“GradCon helped me understand what I wanted from my career and what type of workplace culture would be the best fit for me,” Alex explained. “Being able to speak directly with people from the firm – I spoke to Emma, who was instrumental in helping me join JCP – made a far greater impact than simply researching online.

“That conversation helped my application stand out, which ultimately led to me starting in the Client Engagement team and later securing my Graduate Legal Assistant role, where I am now on the pathway to qualification as a Solicitor.”

JCP Solicitors isn’t the only employer to have recruited through GradCon Cymru.

Enterprise Mobility also exhibited at the event and went on to appoint a graduate it met there. Three candidates generated through GradCon Cymru progressed to the final interview stage.

Two different employers, working in two very different sectors, but with the same result: real conversations at GradCon Cymru turning into real career opportunities.

Why does this matter to employers?

Alex’s experience demonstrates something that a job advert alone cannot always achieve.

Meeting face-to-face gives candidates the opportunity to understand an organisation’s culture, ask questions and picture themselves as part of its team. At the same time, it allows employers to identify qualities, ambitions and potential that may not come across fully on a CV.

For JCP Solicitors, one conversation at an exhibition stand helped Alex form a meaningful connection with the firm before submitting his application. It also helped the JCP team recognise a candidate who could become a valuable part of its future workforce.

GradCon Cymru returns to DEPOT Cardiff on 8 and 9 September 2026 with an expanded two-day format. Tuesday will be open to students and graduates from all degree disciplines, while Wednesday will focus specifically on STEM subjects and careers.

A limited number of exhibition spaces and sector sponsorship packages remain available.

Employers looking to strengthen their graduate talent pipeline can learn more about exhibiting at GradCon Cymru by heading to our event website, or by directly contacting Owain James at [email protected] to find out more.

And why does this matter to candidates?

Alex’s story is also a valuable reminder for students and graduates: turning up and starting a conversation can make a genuine difference.

The employers attending GradCon Cymru are there to meet potential candidates. Asking questions, discussing your ambitions and showing who you are beyond your CV can help you make a lasting impression.

That kind of face-to-face conversation helped Alex stand out and begin his career with JCP Solicitors. Your own conversation at GradCon Cymru could open the door to an opportunity you hadn’t previously considered.

GradCon Cymru takes place at DEPOT Cardiff on Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 September 2026.