Work placements

At Sheffield Hallam, we develop students who can make a real difference. They are talented, have the necessary skills and are keen to make an impact in your organisation. By investing in one of our students, your business will benefit from their technical knowledge and subject matter expertise. They’ll also bring a fresh perspective and plenty of ambition.

A work placement helps a student to gain valuable experience and build their future, but they also make a fantastic contribution to your business, by

• bringing new ideas and a fresh perspective
• being a talented, but low-cost, temporary employee
• breathing new life into projects you haven’t had the time or staff to work on
• bringing the latest academic knowledge into your workplace
• streamlining your recruitment process – many students end up working full-time with their placement employer

How long do placements last?

An undergraduate placement student will usually be with you for 36–48 weeks, starting between June and September. Students tend to go on placement after their second year of studying.

You can recruit undergraduate and postgraduate students for shorter placements, or to help with one-off projects. We are open to ideas and happy to discuss any suggestions for placements and projects that will help your business and give our students experience.

What support is there for my business?

You will work in partnership with one of our placement support teams. It’s their job to make sure that both you and our student get the most out of their placement.

We will help by

• working with you to recruit the right student
• offering recruitment resources, such as interview facilities
• providing support and guidance throughout the placement
• providing a placement tutor who will visit your organisation to make sure that everyone is happy with how things are going

Our students represent your organisation when they are with you. We make sure that they are aware of their responsibility to you and that they act professionally at all times. By accepting a placement in your business, our students agree to

• make a real contribution to your organisation and develop personal, professional and technical skills
• work to your timescales and deadlines, while also meeting report writing requirements that are part of their studies
• work to the terms and conditions of their employment
• relocate to take up a work placement if necessary

How much will it cost?

You will need to pay a salary, but placement students are excellent value for money. They can make an impact in your organisation and will become high-calibre, intelligent members of your team.

What supervision will a student need?

We ask you to allocate a line manager to keep an eye on the student’s progress, offer guidance and meet our placement supervisor from time to time. They will also provide a summary report about the placement once it is over.

You’ll get more from your placement student if you treat them like any other member of your team. Give them responsibility and their own projects to work on and they will show you how valuable they can be to your business.

We ask that you give your student clear terms and conditions of employment, including how many hours they will work and how much they will be paid. It’s your responsibility as an employer to meet any administrative requirements, such as health and safety policy and liability insurance.

Find out more

To find out more about work placements, get in touch using our online contact form. You can also read about the great experience some of our previous placement providers have had.