Butler Launch

Butler Launch is the name given to Josephine Butler College’s leadership, careers, and employability programme. It brings together the activities, networks, and opportunities that help students build confidence, develop professional skills, and prepare for life beyond university.  

At the heart of Butler Launch is the Presidents’ Programme, a bespoke development pathway for student leaders across the JCR and MCR. Through workshops, mentoring, and reflective practice, the programme supports students in understanding their leadership approach, managing teams, and making informed, ethical decisions. It offers a space where leaders can share challenges, learn from one another, and grow into roles that shape the wider College community. 

Each year, Butler Launch also hosts the Networking Dinner, a flagship event that connects students with alumni, professionals, and friends of the College. The evening provides a supportive environment for students to practise networking skills, explore different career paths, and form meaningful connections with people who can inspire and guide their futures. For many, it is one of the most memorable and transformative moments of their employability journey. 

In addition to leadership development, Butler Launch connects students with a wide range of employment and professional experience opportunities within the College, University, and beyond. Josephine Butler College offers around 60 flexible paid roles, including positions in the College Bar and the College Ambassador Programme, giving students the chance to gain transferable skills and earn alongside their studies. Working alongside the Common Rooms, the programme also highlights volunteering opportunities, such as becoming a Fresher Representative (FREP), the Intergenerational Programme working in collaboration with our community partners at Waddington Street Church, and an opportunity to interact and provide social activities for members of the Durham Area Disability Leisure Group (DADLG). These opportunities enable students to contribute to both the College and wider Durham communities while developing confidence, teamwork, and communication skills. Butler Launch further enhances employability by signposting internal and external opportunities, ensuring students are aware of part‑time jobs, internships, volunteering roles, and graduate career pathways both within the University and beyond.