Work Experience
Work experience is an essential component for all Level 1, 2, and 3 students at Plumpton College.
Work experience enhances your studies and is an important part of your course, ensuring you leave college ready for the world of work. It is compulsory to undertake an element of work experience. The amount of hours you have to complete will depend on your level and programme of study.
Work placements provide practical exposure to a working environment. They give you valuable insight into your chosen industry whilst providing an introduction in preparation for entering the workplace, thus building the necessary knowledge, skillset and experience required for further education or employment. Work experience offers challenge and allows the student to apply the technical and practical skills learned in the classroom/workshop and is a great way to gain some form of feedback of performance in the workplace.
Finding a placement is part of the whole experience and it is important for students to pursue this themselves.
How can work experience benefit a student?
- achieve a better understanding of the industry, how a business operates and employer expectation
- introduce them to the requirements, disciplines and satisfactions of working life, so improving employability skills
- to give them the opportunity to develop self-confidence, social skills and enhance their general, personal and social development
- to enable them to form relationships outside of their immediate social group and to make decisions in real life situations
- to put learning into practice in the workplace, and gather evidence for assignments
- to obtain understanding of job roles, further education and training options
- to get an introduction and foothold into the labour market
Does the college have a database of employers that can be used?
Yes, we do have a database, however, you are much better placed to find your own placement as ideally, it will be near to where you live and easily accessible by public transport. If you are struggling to find a suitable placement ask for support: workexperience@plumpton.ac.uk
Do I have to do 1 day a week or can it be at different times on different days?
In order to achieve the hours required, particularly at higher level study, it is best to undertake 1 day a week of work experience for most of the year. This is the ideal model as you can take what you learn at college into the work setting as you develop your skills and knowledge throughout the year.
