What can a European student bring to your workplace?

I am a very lucky person... (Not, as you might think, because of my youthful good looks or sparkling wit!!!!) But because of my job; my job can be frustrating, infuriating and sometimes almost impossible BUT it is always rewarding...the ability to help change someone’s life is amazing. As Work Placement Manager here at TTPL towers I am responsible for the work placements that our trainees carry out at the excellent companies around Torbay and South Devon that we work with; this means that every time one of our young people arrives in Torbay and begin their placement the team here have the opportunity to actually change that young person’s life - a big responsibility that we all embrace.
So how do we change lives?

During the last couple of weeks I have been able to attend a few events where young people have spoken about their experience, one was a young lady who became the youngest person to conquer Mount Everest and the other, another young lady, who used her graduate placement to carve a job for herself at a local travel company. Others have spoken about how their experiences motivated them to start their own business. Stories of how, in the midst of a global recession young people sieze the opportunities available and shape their lives. Inspirational stuff.

It got me thinking about past TTPL students and the companies they worked with...and how the 'life change' also happens for the placements.

I know of companies here in Torbay that have expanded into Europe, as a direct result of taking one of our students and having the courage to embrace an opportunity abroad. This means that we, TTPL, have helped a young person take their first career steps and also helped a business expand - what a result - but it doesn’t end there. Our students are often taking their first 'solo' steps away from home, away from family and friends, and away from all that is familiar. Consider that for a moment - you travel to a new country where you are unlikely to hear your mother tongue. Everything is written in the wrong language, traffic attacks you from the wrong side of the road, the food is different...in fact, everything is different. This is where the magic happens...when families wave goodbye to their young offspring they are often just that, young offspring - what they get back are young adults, people who have grown in themselves, become independent and appreciative of what 'work' and ‘life’ can mean. For the individual the 'germinating shoot' has begun to flower!

We have companies that, having offered placements,  have gone on to offer employment to students once their studies have been completed. Marketing projects that would never have been done. Translations that have made the difference between getting an export contract or not. I cannot leave out those companies that, quite simply, take great pleasure from having a student in their workplace to provide a fresh way of thinking that can revitalise their working environment.

Back to the question; what do student placement bring to the work place?

From an employer’s perspective the benefits are many and various; Motivated young people with a burning desire to learn; Enthusiasm; New skills; Language; Opportunity and good old fashioned Altruism. Never underestimate the motivation that people gain from helping someone.

For the student...Knowledge; Skills; a fantastic CV; Independence; the freedom to 'grow up' and so much more. Travel, contacts, stretching their minds and their confidence…taking the first step to being all that they can be.

Being part of that is a real privilege, one that should be embraced by everyone.

 

A wise man, (Frank Sobey actually), once told me that the students he has hosted bring 'Vibrancy' to the workplace, and that is a fantastic way to describe it. I have tried on many occasions to describe what happens when a student arrives at a new placement. tried to explain the difference it can make, the subtle change in the way your team interacts. The way that their young eyes view what you do every day and see the 'wow' in it all. It is very hard to explain but I think Frank did it.

The problem I have is that I could rattle on for hours about student placement - it has been part of my life for so long, part of what I do. I clearly need to condense my rambling to a single word of benefit to cover what a European student can bring to a workplace. So, what is the benefit of graduate/student placement...in a single word

VIBRANCY

A word we should all learn, appreciate and most certainly celebrate.