Company wanting to recruit a placement student

 If you would like to recruit placement students this page has all the information and links to the Placement Handbook and documents that you need to start the process.

 This is a practical period during which students can contribute to the goals of a firm and develop their relevant skill sets within a “real” working environment. Skill set development during the course includes soft skills such as business acumen, communications/personal skills as well as computing/engineering & technology skills.

 The placement period is from 32 - 48 weeks for our Undergraduate students and from 24 -52 weeks for our Masters and Top-Up students. Students are available to start work across a wide part of the year, usually from June/July with some students able to start in February/March.

A large number of employers’ view the placement as a potential induction period leading to a full-time role after graduation.  Some of our students who have recently returned for the final year of the course are continuing their involvement with their placement firms and are set to return as full time members of staff after graduation.  Many companies have placement students every year and are very impressed by the standard of candidate that we offer.

The placement is normally a paid period of employment.  The rate varies but as a guide is between £11000 to £14000 outside of London and £15000 to £20000 in London for the 48 weeks (pro rata). The rate is influenced by factors such as the worth of the work undertaken and location.  It is rightly left with the employer to set the going rate for the placement.

 The structure of the placement of course depends on what work the employer requires.  Our only proviso is that the work must be related to the student’s course of study.  Typically, the student may become part of a project team or work solo on a variety of projects. We would encourage you to contact us if you feel you have a role which may be suitable for one of our students, as we have a large number of awards which combine a variety of skills.  Some of the most successful placements from the perspective of the employer and student have been challenging projects that “stretch” the student.  However, it should be said that students do need some guidance and structured help during the placement from the employer and University, particularly in the first few months of the placement.

The work undertaken by the student will be the same as any other employee i.e. working towards achieving the objectives of the organisation and should become a pro-active member of the team within a suitable period of time.  A placement work plan or project may be discussed with Staffordshire Universities Placement Year Leader and the student’s “Industrial Mentor” at work.  Assessment is made both by the firm using a feedback form and via discussions during an Industrial Tutor visit(s) to the firm.  The tutor checks that the student is performing and that there are no adverse personal issues.  Placement documents.

The placement conditions of employment will be derived from a contract drawn up between the firm and the student.  A normal employment contract for short-term/temporary staff is adequate. Please note that Staffordshire University is committed to equal opportunities for disabled students and demonstrates this through rigorous compliance with the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001. (further details can be obtained from the placements unit).

The Placement process has a long and established tradition and therefore enjoys strong links with a large number of companies. Placements have been successfully completed in recent years with prominent local firms such as;
Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK, , Perkins Engines, Converteam, JCB, Accenture, Cisco Systems Ltd, Synchro Systems, British Oceanographic Data Centre, The Department for Communities and Local Government (The Deputy Prime Minister), Pirelli Tyres Ltd, AstraZeneca, and Logica CMG. Further a field we have successful placements with many large organisations including Hewlett Packard, EuroCopter, Siemens, Syngenta, CERN, Deutsche Post, BBC, British Airways, County Councils and Hospital trusts throughout the country.

The Placement program is guided by a number of placement professionals at both campuses who possess a large amount of experience in assisting students and companies in the placement process. It must be stressed that the placement process is a two-way effort between the ‘placement team’ and the student. The whole process is monitored by staff to ensure that the needs of both the student and firm are met during the placement period.

If you require more information please contact the Placements Team on 01785 353460.