1. Company Overview
Woods Hardwick
Industry Sector: Civil engineering, architecture, built environment
Location: Birmingham /Bedford
Woods Hardwick is a large company focussing on architecture, civil engineering, transport planning, town planning, and land surveying
2. Challenge or opportunity
Woods Hardwick was looking to help train and retain students into future employees.
3. Collaboration with Further Education
Woods Hardwick took on 2 T level students. They were so impressed with them, it led to paid extra work and now level 4 apprenticeships. Staff have also sat on the college’s employer engagement board and have taken students on Work Experience placement and they have also been in to chat to students.
4. Outcomes and Impact
Business Benefits: training students and then keeping them on as apprentices and offering them paid work
6. Testimonials.
Woods Hardwick Director Matt Ford
“T-levels are great qualifications. The work experience opportunity that comes with it is invaluable for students to learn how things are done in the workplace. It teaches them about the whole experience of what it is like to work, such as traveling, lunch breaks, how to dress and how to speak to people in a work environment.”
Matt is regularly in touch with both the College’s Business Development and Work Experience teams and recently attended a breakfast event at the College where employers had an opportunity to feedback and have a say in what is required in industry that could be included in the curriculum.
Matt adds: “These events are a great way to stay informed about what the College is doing for our future workforce. It’s a fantastic opportunity to network with other organisations in the sector and within the region. The exposure is also great for us from a marketing perspective.”
Student Scott Willmott says, “Being in a workplace has taught me so much and added such value to my CV. Future employers want to see I have industry experience, and this is the perfect way to blend classroom learning with on-the-job learning.”
