Why bringing student placements aboard could be your company’s next best move

Just some of the benefits your business will receive for taking on a placement include gaining access to skilled, motivated, and socially conscious new talent while simultaneously cutting recruitment costs. Additionally, gaining unique and original insights and passion from the next generation of ideators, which in turn can help inspire your existing team to tackle innovation from a new perspective. Businesses can also single out and assist future talent, building a relationship for future graduate recruitment, supporting local talent, and strengthening the local economy.

The students at Ulster University are ready to deliver to the workplace where they have their placements, and as The Times’ Higher Education Awards UK & Ireland University of the Year 2024, Ulster University prides itself on developing students both inside and outside of the classroom.

As far as the requirements of the employer, one of the conditions is that the placements last a minimum of 26 weeks. This is another major benefit of partnering with Ulster University, as your student placement can stay on board for up to 15 months, giving you continuity and depth that you just can’t get with a shorter placement.

By accepting an Ulster University student, employers can make the most of their time invested in training in the placement, as they regularly work from the beginning of June right through to September of the following year. Compared to shorter placement terms usually offered by other universities, this placement time maximises the time available for the student to make the largest possible impact on the business.

Of course, there is a huge amount of flexibility in terms of these availabilities, with the right student matched with the right opportunity for the right amount of time. Once the placement begins, you will be giving your business an immediate injection of new ideas and much sought-after skill sets, as well as unique and modern perspectives that will assist in pushing forward innovation.

The Student & Graduate Opportunities Manager at Ulster University Brian Byers reveals that most employers are initially very surprised by the level of support and partnership that is provided from the very start of the recruitment process:

“We have significant experience in supporting employers across sectors to promote opportunities and find the right student for their opportunities, and that support often exceeds expectations.

“As employers move through the recruitment cycle, we are there to advise and support, and as that relationship develops, we often find new partnership opportunities depending on the goals and needs of the organisation.”

Brian tells us that over the years, employer feedback across the sectors for Ulster University students has exceeded expectations, as they are eager to learn as well as apply their academic knowledge to gain more practical learning in the workplace.

This is true even for placements in roles that some employers feel will be particularly difficult to fill. Jonathan Acheson, the Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at Ulster University, told us about these perceived hurdles and how this programme helped overcome them:

“For one company that struggled for some time to increase application numbers to graduate roles, I encouraged them to advertise placement roles and offered them the ability to come speak directly to students about their roles and tell them a bit about what they did. That year, their placement roles had over 75 applications, and in the following few years, when that class was graduating, the employer noted a marked increase in graduate applications. There is significant value in the entire placement process, from engagement around applications to the value our students add across the year.

“Another benefit businesses can avail of is increased relationships with the university. Occasionally, students returning to the final year of their degree programmes will undertake their final year project in collaboration with their placement organisation. This can help companies undertake novel research to develop new products and services, and over time could lead to more involvement with the skilled and knowledgeable Ulster University research community.”

So for any business considering a student placement, if you’re looking for the right support systems in place from before, during, and even after the placement has taken place, Ulster University will be there with you every step of the way. Check out the full Job Posting Policy here.

You and your business can immediately benefit from Ulster University student talent with placements available from this September! Recruit now!

For more information and to power your business with a student placement visit: ulster.ac.uk/business/recruit-our-talent