Login
BPF
LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
×
☰
Staubli web banner Feb 2024

Unlock the Future: How Student Placements Can Drive Your Business Forward

Unlock the Future: How Student Placements Can Drive Your Business Forward

Published: 2nd April 2025

In today’s competitive landscape companies are constantly seeking innovative ways to stay ahead. An often overlooked yet impactful strategy is partnering with universities to offer student placements. These opportunities not only contribute to the professional development of the next generation of employees but also deliver tangible benefits for businesses, from new ideas to hiring a valuable member of staff with the relevant skills to excel in the role.

Now that the BPF have welcomed universities into membership we can make this process of appointing a student placement even easier. The BPF have been engaging with students at university Career Fairs throughout the year and meeting enthusiastic students seeking placements to enhance their learning, fast track their career and utilise their skills in industry.  To view a full list of universities that are an Associate Member of the BPF click here.

Have you ever considered a student placement within the business? Here are just a few reasons why your company should consider taking on student placements and how doing so can be a rewarding journey.

New Ideas & Innovation

Students offer fresh perspectives and ideas informed by the latest academic theories that they learn throughout their course. Their ability to think outside the box can be invaluable in tackling challenges and identifying innovative solutions especially as they are enthusiastic about learning, motivated by a strong desire to acquire new knowledge.  They are supported during their placement by leading UK academics, who contribute expert knowledge to problem-solving and the development of next-generation products.

Access Skilled Labour & Address the Industry’s Skills Gap

Hiring students for placements is a cost-effective way to access skilled labour and a great way to address the issue of the skills gap within the industry and nurture talent early. Placements often involve mutually beneficial arrangements where students gain practical experience while contributing valuable work. It’s an affordable way to bolster your workforce, particularly for SMEs. Some universities offer support to employers through funding schemes which can help reduce costs.

Strengthen Your Brand

Companies that invest in students signal a commitment to development in people and innovation enhancing their reputation as an employer of choice. Collaborating with universities can open networking opportunities and exposure to a broader talent pool. Sharing success stories from student placements on your website and on social media can position your company as a forward-thinking attractive place to work.

Explore Cutting-Edge Technologies

Students possess a global perspective and advanced technical capabilities, enabling them to provide valuable insights into emerging technologies. Their contributions can enhance innovation in areas such as artificial intelligence, sustainability, and digital transformation

Types of Student Placements

There are various types of student placement opportunities that can be tailored to suit both students and employers. Below is a list of placement opportunities that may suit your needs.

Note: placements can vary and please use this as a guide only.

 

University Requirements & What to Expect

University requirements for student placements often vary by institution and course programme. However, there are common elements typically included in the requirements. For example, to be eligible to apply for placements, students must meet the academic standard required and be enrolled in a course that relates to the placement field e.g. Engineering.

In most cases students will be in their penultimate or final year of study. There will also need to be a formal contract or memorandum of understanding between the university, student and company with details of the role and responsibilities alongside legal terms. Universities can help companies with this process with standard templates or guidelines that companies can adapt to suit their needs.

To help companies chose a suitable student to enrol in a placement students will have to supply an updated CV. In some cases, they will have to submit a portfolio of work to showcase their work and skills. Students will be assigned a university supervisor who may conduct site visits. Additionally, students may have to write progress reports during the placement and provide feedback to the supervisor.

Once the placement is successfully completed students may have to write a concluding progress report on the placement experience and even a presentation that may be graded and count towards their course credit.

List of University Placement Contact Details

Contact your local university to explore the possibility of offering student placement opportunities within your business. Inquire about the university’s process for arranging placements, and the support provided throughout the placement period.

 

Chemistry Student Placements: 

  • Name: Dr Maryjane Tremayne
  • Job Title: Year in Industry Placement Tutor – School of Chemistry
  • Email Address: [email protected]

Engineering Student Placements:

Central contact for internships, industrial placements, graduate roles which fall across multiple schools

School of Automotive, Aeronautical, Chemical and Materials Engineering

School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)

 

  • Name: John White
  • Job Title: Senior Placement Development Manager for the Faculty of Science and Engineering.
  • Email Address:  [email protected]
  • Website: https://www.mmu.ac.uk/business-services/talent-recruitment-development/student-placements
  • Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-white-29435a60/
  • Name: Amie Langford
  • Job Title: Apprenticeship Development Manager
  • Email Address: [email protected]
  • Website: https://www.mmu.ac.uk/study/apprenticeships/for-employers
  • Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amielangford/

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)

  • Name: Neil Bowden & Madeline Baker
  • Job Title: KTP Funding Managers
  • Email address: [email protected]
  • Website: https://www.shu.ac.uk/business/grow-your-business/knowledge-transfer-partnerships

Placements

  • Name: Nick Hague
  • Job Title: Deputy Head of Employer Partnerships - Business, Enterprise, Skills and Employability -  Employer Partnerships Team 
  • Email Address: [email protected]
  • Telephone Number: +44 (0)114 225 5000

  • Name:  Morwenna Tyler
  • Job Title: Business Development and Account Management Consultant      
  • Email Address: [email protected]
  • Phone Number: +44(0)1792 606 173
  • Website link/s Recruit our Talent - Swansea University

Industrial placements ( summer & year long)

Name: Claire Brooke

  • Job Title: Employability & Placements Manager
  • Email Address: [email protected]
  • Website: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/engineering/about/partnerships/placements/recruiting-our-students

KTPs

  • Name: Erica Williams
  • Job Title: Knowledge Exchange Manager - Engineering
  • Email Address: [email protected]

Apprenticeships

  • Job Title: Internships, Placements & Work Experience team
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Website: Internships or Placements
  • Phone Number: +44 (0)24 7615 1882

Author:

Angela Fredericks - Special Advisor – Expanded Polystyrene & Innovation (Email [email protected] with questions)

 
BPF
Subscribe to BPF updates
Join the mailing list
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube

© All rights reserved. Terms and Conditions