How could recruiting placement students benefit your business?
Placement students typically provide the employer with:
- the opportunity to undertake specific project work, which might not otherwise be possible
- new ideas and an ability to look at old problems with a fresh perspective
- strong team working skills, and up-to-date knowledge of the latest IT software
By recruiting a placement student the employer is able to:
- see the student in action for a year, before deciding whether to make them an offer upon graduation
- build closer links with the University with a view to possible further collaboration
- raise their company profile within the University and its students
Recruiting one of our students will not only help them to apply the theory they have learned, and develop their technical and practical skills, but also provide your company with an individual who has been supported to develop the skills to assist and succeed within your business.
Requirements of the employer
The student will be employed as a full-time temporary staff member under the company’s normal Terms and Conditions of service but will still be registered as a full-time student with Loughborough University.
We ask companies to provide the student with:
- a contract of employment and a copy of their job description
- an induction period at the start of the placement
- a series of ‘relevant experiences’ in engineering and its allied fields (including industrial organisation, purchasing, management, etc.)
- a role that is similar to a graduate-level position which requires a level of intellectual participation appropriate to a third-year student
- a project of at least 10 weeks duration where the student can take a leading role
- a safe working environment which stimulates the student to develop their personal, inter-personal, commercial and technical skills. We ask all employers to agree to a HODF (Host Organisation Declaration Form) which requires you to abide by the 1974 Health & Safety Act.
- a Company Manager and/or Supervisor to oversee and mentor the student, complete two performance appraisals, and meet with the Visiting Tutor twice during the year, as well as read and sign off 4 quarterly reports written by the student.
- the facilities enable the student to give an oral presentation of their work at the end of the placement and sit in on the oral presentation.
How we support you during the placement year
Each student is assigned a Visiting Tutor who is a member of the Wolfson School academic staff.
The Tutor will visit twice, usually once in-person and once online, during the placement in which they will meet both the student and their Company Manager to ensure the work being undertaken is suitable and that the student is making an effective contribution to your company. In addition, specialist staff in the School’s Placements Office are available to contact for guidance, support and information.
What will it cost?
Many organisations have a standard rate of pay for placement students. It is expected that students will be paid enough to meet all reasonable expenses and hence will be free from financial worry during the placement.
The salary is a matter for discussion between the student and the employer. The average salary in the UK was £20,000 (from 2023-24 data) with typical salary levels ranging between £18-24K depending upon company, location, cost of living etc. Please note that the Wolfson School does not advertise or encourage students to undertake unpaid placements.
Engineering Placements & Careers fair
We host an annual fair in October, at the start of the academic year. This is jointly hosted by the Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering and the School of Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering.
This free event is the biggest fair of its kind in the UK and is specific for Undergraduate Engineers. As such, it is normally very popular and attended by over 75 organisations.
The day aims to allow companies offering placements to meet our second-year students who are seeking opportunities for the following year. Students from various engineering disciplines are timetabled to attend dedicated presentation timeslots.
If you would be interested in receiving an invitation to the next fair, please let us know and we can add you to our contact list.
How to advertise with us
Should you wish to proceed with advertising a placement, please provide us with a copy of the job description, ensuring that as much of the information as possible below is included. We advertise and promote your opportunity free of charge to students within the school.
- Placement job title
- Job description (please attach a full list of tasks and responsibilities)
- Person specification - skills and personal qualities required
- Location(s) of placement
- Closing date
- Number of vacancies
- Method of application e.g. CV, cover letter, online etc.
- Contact information for applications, i.e. contact number, email
- Acceptable degree subjects
- Further information i.e. salary, hours, interview date etc.
If you have any questions please email ws.placements@lboro.ac.uk