Available support includes:
- health and safety checks of the company
- guidance with application forms
- help researching companies
- CV and letter writing tips.
Start planning early
You should start to plan your work placement when you start college. Remember it may take time to complete a health and safety check of the company. If you want to work in a school you will probably need to undergo a DBS check, which can take up to six weeks.
You will need to ensure that the placement you choose is relevant to you, and will provide you with the skills you need to develop for your chosen career.
Work placements will improve your CV by showing employers you have experience in employment. Plus your employer from a work placement could potentially act as a reference for when you leave college and progress onto your next steps.
When looking for a work placement, you should consider the following:
- Search related websites
- Speak to friends and family – an introduction from someone within a company is often key to securing a placement
- Call in to organisations with a CV or ring them – direct contact is much more successful than sending emails
- Research companies, send letters and emails.
Videos from our local employers
We visited a number of local employers to help you to discover the expectations of their workforce and to speak to young employees to find out what they had to prepare for and adapt to, to enjoy their jobs.
County Battery is the leading and longest serving battery supplier in the UK for past 40 years. They have branches in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Ilkeston and Nuthall.
View video
Linney is a sixth generation, world-class, multi-channel marketing services group, founded in 1851.
View video
Yusen Logistics is global logistics provider specialising in ocean and air freight forwarding, transportation, and supply chain solutions.
View video
International work placements
As a West Notts student, you may also get the opportunity to carry out a work placement internationally!
The college offers transnational opportunities funded by the European Commission, for students and staff to work and engage with partners in a variety of European countries. Opportunities for students and staff include work placements and involvement in collaborative projects. We are currently partnered with organisations based in the following countries:
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Bulgaria, Romania, Italy and Spain
We are currently funded by the European Erasmus+ education programme to deliver Key Action 1 (KA1) vocational education and training (VET) mobility work placements.
Students are supported to participate in these placements but have to meet the selection criteria of their curriculum area. Students are accompanied by members of staff and are expected to fulfil their placement requirements with the support of the European host. European Funding fully supports the travel, accommodation and living costs for each participant.
Recently, a group of 15 West Notts students visited Tartu in Estonia to gain experience of what life’s like in a different country. All students completed a placement in various colleges in Tartu, to gain valuable experience in their chosen career path. In the students ‘free time’ they visited museums, shopping centres and many restaurants to enjoy and learn all about the different culture in Tartu, Estonia.
This film was created by West Notts students who attended.
Contact us
Use the contact details below or drop-in to make an appointment to see one of our advisers.
Feel free to drop-in to student services at Derby Road room 103 to look at current work placement vacancies available and for support with completing applications or ringing companies.
Support & services at West Notts