Work experience placements 

A work experience placement gives students an insight into their chosen career and the experience needed to improve their chances of making successful job or university applications in the future.

All students with a career intention of an apprenticeship, employment with training or taking any alternative route to Higher Education, and those on the Route 3 programme must organise, undertake and evaluate a work placement as an integral part of their study programme. This requirement for work placement also applies to students aiming to progress to a particular higher education course or profession that requires work placement.

Students are encouraged to arrange their own placements but they need to contact the Work Placement Officer before starting their placement to ensure that all essential health and safety arrangements have been made. Parents/carers will be required to sign a consent form.

The Work Placement Officer can offer assistance to source a suitable placement and students can book an appointment to discuss their particular needs.

Useful Links 

https://www.blackpoolsixth.ac.uk/careers/work-experience/

https://sites.google.com/blackpoolsixth.ac.uk/the-work-placement-hub/introduction-to-work-placements/helpful-websites

What is work experience? 

Work experience, work placements or volunteering roles are when students go in to a company or place of work to get an insight in to what it is like to work there and interact with the staff. Students undertake tasks that allow them to make a contribution to the organisation. Although the work is unpaid, students will pick up different skills and meet with various professionals that will be very useful to them.  

Do students have to undertake work experience? 

All  students who study a vocational subject are expected to complete work experience. In some courses taught at Blackpool Sixth, work experience is integrated in to the course, for example: BTEC Health and Social care. We recommend all students should look in to gaining work experience to gain skills and to stand out from the crowd when leaving college. 

What types of organisations can students work in? 

The college has links with many companies and these links grow every year. Popular destinations for students are nurseries, local schools, care homes, charities, hotels and special needs centres. We also have students who have worked in organisations such as Blackpool Victoria Hospital, NST Travel, Virgin Trains, Santander  and many more. 

Do students have to organise their own placements? 

Blackpool Sixth are happy for students to follow up any of their own contacts they may have and arrange their own work experience. If this is the case, you must attend a meeting to discuss this with the Employer Liasion Officer, ensuring all necessary paperwork is completed. However, if a student is unsure of where to go or needs help contacting a company then we have a dedicated officer who will be happy to help in trying to organise a work placement. All our placement providers are risk assessed and agree that the student will receive an induction, will carry out meaningful work, and will be supervised whilst on their placement. 

What other information should students know? 

We ask students to treat their work placement as a responsible adult would treat paid employment in the world of work. This way the student can really get the best out of their placement; asking questions, using initiative, learning on the job and taking responsbility for their actions.