Hosting a short-term summer placement can make a tangible difference to a student’s career prospects whilst also benefiting your company.
Each year we work with alumni, local employers and SMEs further afield, to host placements for Royal Holloway students during the summer holidays. Placements usually last 2 or 4 weeks and take place between June and September. Could you host a student at your place of work?
There is no cost to alumni/employers who take part as Royal Holloway supports participating students with a grant.
If you can help current students get real-life experience that will help them succeed we want to hear from you. We are always looking to build new relationships and generate exciting opportunities for our students who are eager to gain experience across all sectors.
If you would like to get involved, please get in touch with us at CareersPlacements@royalholloway.ac.uk to book an informal chat. You can read more about the benefits to you, and hear from previous hosts below.
The benefits of hosting students
There are loads of benefits for a company to take on a student for a short placement:
- There’s no cost to you (the university pays the students a grant on completion of the programme)
- Nurture diversity within your team or company
- Get fresh ideas for your projects and encourage innovation
- Finally complete those tasks that are always put on a back-burner
- Inspire the younger generation by offering guidance and opportunities
- Develop colleague's leadership/mentoring skills
- A great recruitment tool – considering hiring a graduate? Hosting placements allows you to get to know our students and see what opportunities could lie ahead
- Make a lasting and life-long impact on the career prospects of students who have faced barriers in higher education and consequently their futures
- Build a relationship with Royal Holloway University and the Careers Service
Our cohort of students secure their place on the programme by completing a series of employability activities alongside their studies. This includes a CV workshop and video interview practice, with tailored support and feedback from the Placements Team. After completing all mandatory activities, the students can apply for placement opportunities on this programme, meaning your candidates are motivated and enthusiastic to gain experience.
You’ll likely remember being in the student's shoes, with the daunting world of work looming. Your guidance and advice is invaluable to our students as they take these important steps in their early career.
Which students participate in the programme
Participating students are all First or Second Year Undergraduates from one or more of the following underrepresented backgrounds:
- Black Heritage
- Financially supported/low socio-economic background
- Care Leaver
- Registered with Disability and/or Neurodiversity
- First generation to attend university
So by taking part you will be helping to remove barriers for students in need of your support.
Hear from previous hosts about why they get involved
“[It] gives us the opportunity to have work complete that we do not usually have time to do… and gives staff a chance to gain experience supervising/managing… As Royal Holloway alumni, I also like to give back to the College”– Andreea (Department, Class of) on her motivation to host multiple students over a number of years. |
“For us, it’s important to support exposure and opportunity for these demographics and the programme gave us the opportunity to access bright and enthusiastic individuals that we may not have otherwise reached.”– Climax Community |
"It is not just about helping complete the work that we don't have the resources to do, but it is also about where the opportunities are to bring in great new ideas and a different perspective. Students bring such diversity of thought and new ways of doing or seeing things, which adds huge value to our work. Placements also help us to raise awareness of the work of the Environment Agency, and the opportunities available for those who want a career in the environmental/science field. Being able to contribute to a student’s learning and help shape their future ambitions are the greatest motivations for participating in such programmes"– Lucy Manzo, Environment Agency |
See some of the organisations who have taken part
As a careers-learning programme, students who complete all of the activities and placement have this added to their official degree transcript, along with a certificate that they can add to their LinkedIn profile which will help to boost their career opportunities in the future. We also encourage placement hosts to connect with their placement students on LinkedIn!
