Work experience

Full time students at Lakes College are required to complete a set amount of work experience every year, which usually amounts to 36 hours; the equivalent to a full working week. Our Work Placement Coordinators work with local companies to secure hands on, relevant placements to give students the best possible experience that will benefit their learning.

The format of the 36 hours can be flexible depending on the needs of the employer, convenience, and the students’ studies and availability. This may be a full working week (Mon-Fri) or, in other situations, it can be spread over a few weeks, with a number of days allocated per week (e.g. one day for five weeks). In some cases, students are required to do two days each week in placement for the duration of their course. This is mainly at Level 3 and applies to Childhood Studies and Health and Social Care students.

Students will participate in a series of preparation exercises and processes to ensure that they perform to the highest standards in any placement they are set. These include attendance monitoring and mock interviews to ensure that they perform well in the workplace.

Benefits to the learners include:

Real world exposure to the workplace
Education and the working world are very different. Work placement allows students to prepare for the work environment by gaining a week’s experience in a workplace.

Practical chance to develop employability skills
Punctuality, attendance, presenting well and creating a CV are all skills students need to take into the working world. Work placement allows students to practice these skills and work with a real world company.

Applying theoretical knowledge to practical applications
Learning a skill and implementing it can be quite different. Allowing students to practice and implement their theoretical skills in a work environment gives them a better understanding of their career and a new perspective on learning.

On the work placement students are expected to:
• Abide by all company policies and procedures
• Follow guidelines and procedures set by Lakes College
• Be respectful and well presented at all times
• Be punctual and attend all days agreed