College students complete local work experience

The students were taken on a tour of Crystal Doors by Managing Director, Richard Hagan (far right)

Over 90 Rochdale Sixth Form College students completed a work placement with leading employers from across the region at the end of January.

Students attended a three-to-five-day placement in a number of organisations within the business and finance, IT, engineering and health sectors.

Employers were impressed with the students and have praised the attitude and commitment of those involved. One student has already been offered a part-time job as a result of her successful work placement.

Five BTEC Information Technology students attended work experience with Alternate States based in Castleton. Alternate States is a start-up development and experience studio. The students were set a week-long project to create a unique way of bringing real-world objects into the virtual world.

As part of their project, the students were taken on a tour of Crystal Doors by Managing Director, Richard Hagan.  Whilst at the Rochdale-based warehouse, the students discussed their studies at the sixth form college and their plans for the future. Richard spoke to them about Industry 4.0 and the increased requirement for innovation and technology within the manufacturing industry.

Richard commented: “I was very impressed with their knowledge and commitment and they clearly had a strong grasp of their specialised field. It was refreshing to see members of the local younger generation showing passion about technology along with the environment issues that are important to us all.”

All students at Rochdale Sixth Form College are able to request support with obtaining a career placement and it is their aim to offer all students a career placement before they leave the college, to support applications for further study and employment.

Students have been successful in securing work experience placements with a range of organisations over the years and a number of students that have attended these placements have also been offered employment once their studies are completed.