Student experience: why hosting employer workshops is so beneficial

There are many reasons why we regularly invite our industry partners into Ada Lovelace. One is that we’re proud of the T Level offering and we welcome the opportunity to show our industry partners first-hand what we’re trying to create for our students.

Another is the huge benefit to the students. Meeting industry partners from the digital, finance and science world helps our students to gain confidence in a professional setting. We often ask our students to show our visitors around the school and engage with them in the annual Ada Lovelace Day networking session. We find that they build confidence and maturity the more they interact with people from the professional world. It’s what sets T Levels apart from A Levels, where exposure to professionals is much more limited.

Hosting sessions on our school site also enables employers to see the calibre of students we have. Professionals can meet and chat to the students before committing to offering work placements, be reassured that our students aren’t going to embarrass them in the workplace, see that they can be trusted, that they’ve been taught to turn up to work on time, make eye contact and be proactive in getting involved with the tasks set on placement.

We have also found that our staff get a lot from these visits too; they are proud to showcase the hard work they’re putting in to teaching the curriculum, but also the softer skills. For example, one industry partner visited from a construction firm a few months back. His company had only offered placements to T Level construction students to date. He mentioned to our teachers that if the students had been shown how to use CAD software, this would be beneficial to coming on placement with them. Our teachers subsequently devised a module on CAD software for the students (who by the way absolutely loved learning this new skill) and our client was so impressed with the knowledge the students were able to demonstrate on his next visit. We have now had confirmed offers from this partner to take students this academic year. We understand that work placements need to work for everyone: the student, the school and the employer.  

So how do we organise workshops in school? Well, different industry partners require different approaches, but this doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You need to consider the potential partner’s time being a valuable commodity. So, if this is a new contact, we will arrange an initial online Teams call as a ‘chemistry meeting’. This is a chance for both sides to share a little about what they do. We then invite the professional to come and visit the school. We normally invite them in to deliver a session – that way they can get the measure of our students and both sides can evaluate fit. Following the initial workshop, we would discuss next steps and how to move the relationship forward. For some clients, that’s further workshops and for others, they have seen enough that they might invite a group of our students to their offices for a visit and a workshop, or they might even offer some placements at that stage. Whatever the outcome, it’s important to work collaboratively so that both sides can input into the process.

When we launched the Accountancy T Level at Ada Lovelace, we had limited contacts in this sector. We had to think creatively about how to go about networking, so we tried a new tactic. We did some online research to gather details of accountancy firms in West London, Ealing specifically. We then crafted an email and emailed all of the firms on the database, inviting them to come into our school for a networking session. Despite very few replying, the one who did engage went on to come in to school to meet the T Level team and after further discussions, is now offering most of our first year T Level Accounting cohort a two-week placement on an ongoing rotation basis. They have become a much valued and appreciated partner.

Flexibility is key when it comes to organising sessions. Sometimes we understand that a partner won’t want to commit to offering placements until the relationship is more bedded in, while others are not interested in offering placements but are very keen to deliver workshops. We’re glad that many see the value T Level students can offer and are keen to offer placements so that they can build a talent pipeline for the future.

Our staff and students see many benefits to hosting sessions.

Cameron, T Level accounting student, said: “During my two-week placement, I had the opportunity to develop a strong foundation in bookkeeping under the guidance of the staff there. They introduced me to the core principles of bookkeeping while demonstrating the importance of industry-standard accounting software.

“Personally, I found the placement to be an extremely valuable and rewarding experience. It enabled me to apply the theoretical knowledge I have gained through my studies while developing practical skills that are directly relevant to a career in accounting and finance. As a result, I have become more confident using professional accounting software and have gained a deeper understanding of bookkeeping within a real-world business setting.”

Fahed, T Level accounting student, said: “It was interesting to see how accounting software helps make everyday tasks quicker and more organised. As well as learning how to use Xero and Sage, I improved my attention to detail and became more confident using accounting software. I also got a better idea of what working in an accounting environment is like and the type of work involved on a day-to-day basis. Overall, I really enjoyed the placement and found it to be a useful experience.”

One of our recent workshop providers works for a chartered accounting firm. He is also an alumni of the Twyford CofE Academies Trust. When he came back to deliver a workshop, he said: "It was a great experience going to Ada Lovelace and to speak with the T Level students. Coming back was quite nostalgic, and it was enjoyable to see some of my former teachers again and catch up with them. It was rewarding to share my journey and hopefully give students an insight into the opportunities available in accounting.

“The T Level students were bright, enthusiastic and eager to learn. They worked really well throughout the workshops we delivered picked up new skills quickly and showed a genuine interest in the activities”.