Industry Placements and Work Experience
As part of your study programme you will undertake some form of work experience or work-related activity – this is depending on which course you study. We will help and support you find an industry placement or work experience placement that compliments your study programme.
We have links with a wide range of employers, from across the region, with lots of opportunities available. Our team is committed to supporting you towards your future career goals, and creating your brighter future.
Experience in the work place allows you to develop the knowledge and skills relevant to your course and future career.
You will gain an understanding of what it is like to work in your chosen industry and enhance your CV to make sure you stand out from the crowd when you leave college.
How will you be supported?
We’ll:
- Help you to find a suitable placement from our employer network
- Prepare you for your placement
- Carry out health and safety visits to ensure the workplace is ready for you
- Support you on a one-to-one basis with your work placement
Existing students please click here to find resources to support you with your placements.
We want to hear from you, so please get in touch with any questions you may have about work experience or industry placements.
Our email address is workplacementteam@weston.ac.uk
Industry Placements and T levels
As part of your course, learners will be expected to complete a minimum of 315 hours work placement over 45 to 60 days.
The Work Placement Team will support you through the placement, from helping you secure your placement, to analysing the results of placement. This placement must be course relevant and aligned to your career aspirations.
We are also launching the new T Level qualification in September 2020, you can find out about them, here.
Work Experience
- More than 5 days or 37 hours, usually one week work taster at an external business
- Students are expected to take on work experience across almost all subjects
- Level 2 students will be supported through tutorial and personal and social development (PSD) with a personal tutor
- Level 3 students will be supported and prepared through their Futures Academy sessions and tutorials.
Top tips for work placement success
Be prepared
Make sure you are ready for your placement – try to find out what it involves, what you need to take and what will be expected of you. Remember, the College’s Work Placement Team will help you get answers for these questions and support you throughout the placement.
Be inquisitive
When you’re on your placement, don’t be afraid to ask relevant questions. It shows you’re interested in the company and are keen to learn more.
Here are some FAQs about work placements
A work placement will give you the opportunity to gain skills specific to your subject or industry of choice as well as the employability skills required for real-life work. It will also increase your knowledge of an industry or sector, allowing you to make better informed decisions about future career choices.
If you aren’t able to find a placement yourself, then our Work Placement Team will be able to support you in securing a placement with a relevant business.
Once the placement is set up, the College contacts the business and completes a brief health and safety check with a short questionnaire by telephone or a visit.
When that is all sorted, you are introduced to the employers, dates are agreed and you become an employee for the allotted time. You will have several tasks and criteria to meet during the placement, including completing a log book.
We will prepare you for your placement before you start, to ensure you have a good understanding of the expectations the employer has of you and what your responsibilities are.
You will receive specialist tutorials and employability sessions delivered by the Futures Academy to ensure that your placement journey is a successful one.
We will support you throughout the process, you ask us any questions or raise concerns relating to your work placement.
Whilst on placement, you will be assigned a supervisor who will ensure that you feel supported in the workplace. When you first start, you will be given an induction of your placement which will help you settle into the working environment.
Employers appreciate that you’re new to the business, and support you with any questions that you may have.
Working days vary, depending on the need of business. If you aren’t sure on what times you need to be in, double check with the employer.
Unfortunately we are unable to support students with travel whilst on placement.
This depends on your employer, and will be covered in your induction.
