Placement year scheme launches

Placement years help students get a step ahead

Liverpool Hope launches exciting new placement year scheme for students across the University.

Placement years were introduced across Liverpool Hope University in September 2019, ensuring students have the opportunity for coveted on-the-job experience.

Students who chose to take advantage of the scheme will spend an additional academic year – between second and third year – in the workplace gaining industry insight and experience. The placement is a minimum of 1,200 hours and spent across one or two positions.

Liverpool Hope Business School student Joseph Dunwell completed an Accounting placement year in 2018-19. Talking about the experience, he said: “My placement year has given me life-changing personal and professional experience. The opportunity has confirmed my career plans and developed my professional network.”

Joseph’s placement was with national accountancy firm Sedulo. The company’s HR Director Jess Walton said: “Hosting a Hope placement student has been an asset to our business. Joe contributed to exciting projects and we hope he applies for a graduate position with us when he finishes his degree.”

The placement year will be an option for all undergraduate students at Hope. The Careers and Employability Team will manage the process and support academic departments.

Anna Worsley, Senior Employment & Placement Officer at Liverpool Hope, explained how a competitive graduate labour market means placement opportunities are more important than ever.

She said: “According to the Highfliers report, 33 per cent of graduate jobs go to students who have already worked in that company through an internship or placement year.

“Hope’s placement year is a fantastic addition to our student experience that will place our graduates a step ahead when they launch their careers.”