SHIPLEY COLLEGE STUDENTS MORE THAN DOUBLE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR WORK EXPERIENCE
Shipley College students are gaining work experience at more than twice the rate reported nationally, according to new figures released by the College.
An impressive 97% of Shipley College students take part in work experience, compared with a recent national figure showing that just 43% of students surveyed had completed work experience during the previous year.
The national findings, published by the Association of Colleges, also highlighted concerns that many young people rely on personal or family connections to secure opportunities – potentially leaving those without those networks at a disadvantage.
Shipley College says its figures demonstrate the importance it places on ensuring students gain genuine workplace experience alongside their qualifications, helping them develop practical skills, confidence and connections with employers.
The figures come as the Government places a renewed national focus on vocational and technical education.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently announced plans to give young people earlier access to technical education, skills training, work experience and direct contact with employers, as part of reforms designed to create clearer routes from education into skilled employment.
The Government has also pledged to better align technical education with the needs of local economies and employers, while expanding apprenticeships and other routes into work.
Alexa Heacock, Team Leader for Employer Placements at Shipley College, said:
“Reaching 97% is a fantastic achievement, but what matters most to us is the experience behind that number.
“We don't want work experience to be something students simply tick off as part of their course. We want them to go into real workplaces, work alongside employers, develop their confidence and understand what a career is actually like.
“For some students it confirms the career they want to pursue, for others it opens their eyes to opportunities they hadn't previously considered, and sometimes it leads directly to employment.
“Not every young person has family members or personal connections who can open those doors for them. A really important part of our job is making sure our students can access those opportunities regardless of their background.”
The impact can already be seen among students across the College.
Eve Goodyear, who studied Level 3 Childcare and Education, secured employment before she had even completed her course.
She said: “Through my placement, I’ve secured a job before I've even finished my course! Thanks to the teachers at Shipley College who have supported my work and visited me in placement, I've stayed confident and feel ready for the future.”
For Alicia Ali, a Level 3 Health and Social Care student, her placement at Aedas Angels helped turn classroom learning into real workplace experience.
She said: “The support from Shipley College has been really strong, especially from the placements team. They helped me find a placement close to home and made the whole process really smooth.
“Once I started, I loved it straight away and it confirmed that this is something I could see myself doing in the future.”
Leland Summers, a T Level Business student who completed a placement with KO Fibres, described the experience as a turning point.
He said: “The placement has been a big turning point for me. It’s helped me become more confident, more independent and more comfortable working with new people.
“The placement side of the course makes a massive difference. You’re not just learning theory – you’re getting real experience that prepares you for the future.”
Creative Media student Maria Bukhari has progressed from work experience with Bradford Industrial Museum to an opportunity with ITV's digital production team.
She said: “Doing placements has been a massive part of my course. I’ve already worked with the Industrial Museum, which gave me real experience working with employers and building confidence.
“Now I’m going to ITV with the digital production team, which is honestly a dream opportunity and exactly where I want my career to go.”
Employers themselves say the College's approach is making a difference.
Tom Mott, from Lloyds Banking Group, said: “Shipley College are passionate about getting young people through the door, giving them opportunities they wouldn’t normally have, keeping those doors open so they can have a really successful career.
“We worked closely with Shipley College, found some fantastic students and when they came to us on placement, they did superbly well.”
Adam Noble, Senior Production Manager at Northern Rail, said: “When we engaged with representatives from Shipley College, it was clear they were genuinely focused on aligning the needs of local employers with the opportunities available to students.
“They wanted to understand what employers were looking for so they could help students develop the right skills and experiences for the future.”
Gareth Thompson, owner of Kingdom Wrestling, said students placed with the organisation had been “adaptable and creative”, adding that they “contribute massively, stay dedicated, turn up when they’re supposed to and help out in every single way”.
The College's results also come against a challenging national backdrop for colleges. Association of Colleges research found that an average of 1,585 students per college require work experience each year, while many colleges reported difficulties securing sufficient placements in areas including digital, creative industries, construction, engineering and manufacturing.
Alexa added:
“The direction nationally is very clear: young people need qualifications, but they also need experience, confidence and meaningful contact with employers.
“At Shipley College, 97% of our students are already getting that opportunity. Our next challenge is to build even stronger relationships with employers across Bradford and West Yorkshire so that we can continue improving both the quality and range of experiences available to them.”
The College is encouraging more local employers to work with its Employer Placements team, providing opportunities for students while developing relationships with the area's future workforce.