Gemma Ford, Learning and Development Manager at BSH, says that offering T Level industry placements to engineering students through MK College is a key way to help young people prepare for the world of work.

The company, which has its UK headquarters in Milton Keynes, is responsible for sales and marketing across the UK and the Republic of Ireland for home appliance brands such as Bosch, Siemens and Neff.

Gemma explains that the company has worked with MK College for many years through its apprenticeship programme but was introduced to T Levels more recently.

“For students going into the workplace for the first time, it can be quite daunting,” she said. “Offering a T Level industry placement helps make it feel less scary. It’s a huge leap to go from school into the workplace, but by doing a T Level – having that day a week in the workplace – students are set up really positively for the future. They get a real sense of what their chosen career will be like.”

On why they chose to partner with MK College, Gemma said: “Our head office is in Milton Keynes so it makes perfect sense to work with the college. We’ve built a great relationship – they’re always our first point of call. The college is local, so students can access face-to-face training, which provides a better learning environment for them.”  

Talking about the college’s experience of supporting employers, she added: “I find everyone at the college easy to work with. We have regular catch-ups every six to eight weeks, and the support has been excellent. Our managers receive regular updates, and I’m also kept informed about how the students are progressing. If I ever have a question, I can just send an email and I always get a quick response. They’re really helpful.”

When asked what advice she would give to other employers considering offering T Level placements, Gemma said: “I’d say we went into it with the mindset of ‘let’s give it a go’ and see how it works. A good starting point is simply getting a student in – let them shadow your team, just get them through the door. Sometimes all a student needs at the beginning is to know where the café is! The basics really matter at first – and from there, it’s easy to build up their confidence and experience.”

To find out more about offering work placements through MK College, contact the Work Experience Team at: workexperienceteam@mkcollege.ac.uk