Inspiring the next Generation STEM – can your business offer a summer Placement?
April 5, 2017
Are you the kind of business that is interested in showing young people what the real world of work is all about? Are you passionate about your career in STEM and want to share your experiences with secondary school/college students? If so, maybe your business would like to join our STEM Placements scheme.
Science Oxford offers two summer STEM Placements schemes each year, which provide a valuable insight into STEM careers for young people as they decide on their options after leaving school or college.
We are currently looking for organisations in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire that would be willing to host placements during the school summer holidays (24 July – 1 September 2017). We have many schools signed up and want to ensure we help as many students as possible find a work placement this year.
Our STEM Research Placements are for students aged 16-17 who plan to study a STEM subject at university. They spend 3 – 4 weeks in a business or academic institution and undertake a project in a STEM related field, such as research, data analysis or science communication. It’s a great way to find out more about a career in science and we work with companies like Amec Foster Wheeler, Brainomix, Control Developments, Oxford University IT Services and STFC.
“Both our placement students seemed to really get a better understanding of what goes on in the department and that there are many jobs associated with science that don’t include being a scientist”. (Business)
“I feel that I now have a better understanding of what it is really like to work in the science industry in an active lab. I have also learnt about a lot of new techniques used in the industry and the various experiments which are being explored constantly”. (Student)
STEM Apprentice Placement at the Dunn School of Pathology at Oxford University in 2016.
Our STEM Apprentice Placements are for students aged 15-17 who would like to know more about apprenticeships. We place students in businesses that either are experienced apprenticeship providers or are considering offering apprenticeships in the near future. The placements last 2-4 weeks and the students produce a report and poster at the end.
We work with a huge range of local companies to provide apprentice placements, such as BMW Mini Plant, Earth Trust, Laing O’Rourke, Lucy Electrical, MRC, Olamalu, Oxford University Department of Engineering Science and Skanska UK.
“The placement allowed Fran to understand that Skanska offer design and project management careers as well as traditional site based roles associated with contracting. We covered a range of technical subjects with Francesca, and we hope that she will share her positive experience with her peers.” (Business)
“I now have far greater understanding of what it is like to be an apprentice, that there are many benefits of choosing to do an apprenticeship and can hugely increase the career options of the person taking part.” (Student)
We’d really like to hear from you if your organisation wants to get involved. If you would like more information on hosting a placement, please contact us at [email protected].
Read about Science Oxford’s STEM Apprentice Placements in 2016 at the Dunn School of Pathology at Oxford University here or visit our STEM World of Work page here.
