Students benefitting from Work Placements

Jan 30, 2019

College students have been benefitting from undertaking work placements with local businesses and organisations.

The College plays a key role in supporting the future workforce to ensure that young people leave education ready for the workplace.

Our dedicated Fab Futures team works with local employers to arrange fantastic opportunities for our full time learners across all subject areas to gain valuable work experience.

A Level Professional Honours Programme student, Marcus Collier is studying on the Engineering pathway with ambitions to become a Nuclear Engineer.

He used his work placement at instrumental tube fitting specialists, Safelock Ltd to gain vital work experience which will enhance his learning.

He said: "It’s a great opportunity to have first-hand experience in the engineering industry and manufacturing process.

“I have been doing quality assurance checks using different equipment in the workplace including micrometres and vernier callipers and sending design drawings to CNC machines.”

As a standard requirement for all students to undertake a work placement, there are many benefits to both students and businesses.

Businesses that take on work placements can enjoy benefits such as attracting college leavers into jobs or apprenticeships and reduction in recruitment costs. It can also help to raise awareness of career opportunities within the sector.

A Level Applied Medical pathway student, Dillon Elsby did his work placement at Bridgewater NHS Falls Prevention and Fracture Liaison (Ince).

Dillon’s mentor, Donna Cunningham (Fall Prevention Nurse) said: "It's nice to have a younger perspective and Dillon can communicate well with other team members. It's great to be a part of the process seeing a young person who might be a future GP or medical professional coming through and encouraging them.”

Students benefit massively by developing skills in communication and organisation while increasing their technical knowledge in a working environment tailored to their subject area.

Dillon said: “I've had the opportunity to work with older people with dementia which I wouldn't have known about before and it’s given me another option to think about what I might want to do in the future such as physiotherapy.

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma Health & Social Care student, Jodie Nicholls gained experience at the Heartbeat charity in Preston.

Jodie, “Work experience has been great and relates to my course well, I have also enhanced my communication skills.”

Louise Bache, CEO at Heartbeat, “Jodie has been a delight and she has worked extremely well here.”

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma Business student, Megan Harrop is currently on placement with AJ Automate (Leigh) who specialise in electrical control and maintenance.

Megan, “I have recently got a customer service role at Morrisons as a part-time job and I believe having this work experience while at College helped in my interview.”

Office Manager, Michelle Atherton, "Megan is doing really well. Everything she's been asked of she's done and we are happy with her work.”