Gaining work experience is a fantastic way to show potential employers or universities that you have a keen interest in your future career.  Your work experience can come in both paid and unpaid forms; in a voluntary capacity or as a part time job you may have outside of college.  If you are studying Childcare, Health and Social Care or Animal Management courses then your work placement hours are a compulsory element of your vocational course.

Work placements offer you an excellent learning experience and our team of Work Placement Officers are constantly reviewing and expanding our network of placement providers. Students who take on a placement, will have:

• an interest and knowledge within the subject area and will contribute to the company through the work you carry out whilst on your placement;
• potential to carry out project or other work which the company may not otherwise have time to do.

Your placement will be assessed and you will be expected to carry out the following whilst on placement:

• Maintain a portfolio, including a reflective journal, of the work you carry out.
• Carry out a number of work based learning exercises – which will often be linked to specific units of work.

Before the start of the placement you will receive further information on the objectives in relation to the course of study, and if you will be required to carry out any additional specific duties etc. The placement company will receive confirmation of your details prior to the placement commencing so they can contact you in advance and request a pre-placement interview where necessary.

If you are working in regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults the work placement team will assist you applying for an enhanced DBS check which you will need prior to the start of your placement.

Having work experience on your CV or university application will highlight that you have undertaken real-life responsibility in addition to your college studies, and have proven yourself to be reliable and pro-active.

You can arrange work experience independently, or are able to gain advice from the College Careers Team.