Work Based Learning for Placement Providers

Two business people having a discussion while one is typing up on their tablet. Two business people having a discussion while one is typing up on their tablet

What is Work Based Learning, how can it benefit placement providers, and how can my organisation get involved?

Every year, our students secure placements in a range of sectors and organisations across the UK. The students have subject-specific knowledge from courses across the University’s faculties and they are keen to apply this in real-world settings – whether that is through a specific project or being involved in the day-to-day routine of a workplace.

All students attend a university-based induction programme which is designed to prepare them for both placement and assessment. It helps to increase awareness of the skills and abilities that employers are increasingly looking for in their employees, which includes communication and teamwork.

Students are encouraged to work with their placement organisations to outline the structure and objectives for the placement. This in turn will lay the foundations for their reflections on achievements and skills development required for the assessment.

Placements do not have to relate to the students’ current programme of study but do need to run for at least 150 hours over a five-week period.

Our placement providers report that some of the benefits include:

  • An extra pair of hands at no extra cost
  • Student can dedicate their time to a project or area of work
  • Obtain fresh ideas and perspectives to working practices and challenges
  • Assess, develop and recruit potential new members of staff
  • Mentoring opportunities and staff development for staff
"Extremely valuable additional help during our busiest time of year. Please can we keep them?"

— Stella Spratley, Conway Centres

A female student working outdoors next to animal enclosure at Chester Zoo.
Student placement at Chester zoo
male student facing a pc screen
Student working on a PC
An engineering student
Engineering student in a skills lab
Male teaching student with primary school children doing a classroom activity
teaching student working with primary school children

How to offer and support a placement

Work Based Learning is an academic module in which students complete a 150-hour minimum unpaid placement between Mon 22nd April to 24th May 2024 . Placements can be offered as a physical or virtual work-based learning experience.

All placements are approved by the Work Based Learning team and we check that insurances, health and safety considerations and risk assessments are in place. We provide the students with a Placement Objectives Document to guide their discussions with you around the specific role including tasks, responsibilities and development of their employability skills.

The student will require a supervisor or mentor who is willing to support and manage them throughout the placement.

  • At the start of the placement, the supervisor should take the student through a staff induction and towards the end of placement, meet with the student (in person or remotely) to complete an appraisal.
  • The student will also need to complete a verfied timesheet. This is a compulsory component of the module as it confirms that the student has undertaken the required minimum 150 hours in placement.

The placement process

Placements can be offered by two methods:

Direct to the student

When you offer a placement directly to a student, they will provide the Work Based Learning team with your details as their named placement provider. Work Based Learning will then send you a confirmation email with links to the Health and Safety and Confirmation Form. The placement should meet the requirements of the module and we will contact you if there are any queries.

Direct to the University

When you offer a placement directly to the University, you are asked to complete a Placement Offer form. We advertise the opportunity to students and the Placement Coordinators perform a shortlisting exercise to match the most suitable student/s on your behalf. Once a suitable student has been shortlisted, we will ask the student to contact you directly to arrange an interview and discuss the placement in more detail.

  • Conduct an interview with the student (in person or remotely)
  • Take a look at the Placement Objectives Document with the student
  • Discuss the role, dress code, working days and hours, travel etc.
  • Highlight any necessary vaccinations or DBS requirements
  • Discuss any reasonable adjustments that may be required

Prior to the placement, students will attend a University-based induction programme to receive guidance on how to get the most from the placement.

During the first few days of the placement, please carry out your own workplace induction relevant to the type of placement offered. This may include a tour of facilities, introductions to colleagues, health and safety procedures, fire safety procedures, remote working policies and absence reporting.

It may be worthwhile reaffirming objectives for the placement, e.g. what you expect from the student, any skills they already have and how they can maximise the benefits of the experience you are offering them. This would also be a good time to schedule the appraisal and any other progress meetings or supervisory sessions that you require. The student is responsible for keeping a record of attendance and the timesheet should be agreed and signed off by you at the end of the placement period.

  • Complete the appraisal and finalise timesheet
  • Ensure all resources have been returned by the student
  • Complete feedback on the placement
  • Consider providing a case study for WBL (template provided)

Placement forms and documents

The easiest way to offer a placement is through our online Work Based Learning Placement Offer Form.  You can also offer placements by downloading the Microsoft Word version (available below) and sending the completed form through to wbl@chester.ac.uk.