Information for Placement Employers
Please note that the following information applies to placement students on London
Metropolitan Business School degree programmes where the student has opted for an
assessed placement or has a compulsory assessed placement within their course.
Business Works is the Placement Office at London Metropolitan Business School, which
supports students and employer before, during and after placement.
University requirements
To fulfil course regulations, the placement must be of 44 weeks minimum duration, be fulltime work and in a role and/or environment related to the programme of study, whilst
reflecting the student’s career interests. The placement may be paid or unpaid.
The participant will remain enrolled as a student of London Metropolitan University during the
12 month placement and will return to his/her full-time course of study the following October
(or February for placements starting early in the year).
Aims/Objectives of the Placement
The placement is designed to give students the opportunity to use the theoretical knowledge
acquired during the first two years of study and to continue learning within a structured workbased environment.
The objectives of the placement are:

To provide work experience relevant to the academic curriculum and a practical
opportunity to apply knowledge and skills acquired on the course.

To provide experience of the practical problems of working within a business
environment, and to develop new skills and insights relevant to the solution of such
problems.

To develop a critical appraisal and appreciation of the uses and limitations of
theoretical principles studied on the student’s course.

To provide a sound foundation for more detailed study of subject disciplines or
industry sectors in the final year and to allow students to make an informed choice of
option streams and career paths.

To introduce students to new perspectives and experiences which will help to develop
personal attributes of maturity, self-awareness and self-confidence and academic
insights that will be valuable in final year studies.

To gain insight into own abilities, aptitudes, attitudes and employment potential.
Assessment of the Placement
Students are required to submit a Placement Report. The first section of the report is a
critical analysis of the host organisation, examining both the internal and external
environments and providing recommendations. The exercise will give students the
opportunity to apply the knowledge gained during the degree to their employment situation,
and will provide a foundation for detailed study in the final year. We understand the potential
sensitivity of this type of investigation and are keen for students to obtain the support of the
organisation to explore the issue in question. If you have any questions regarding this part of
the report, please do not hesitate to contact a Business Works member of staff for further
guidance.
For the second section of the report students are required to undertake a reflective Selfassessment on their achievements and skills gained in line with six Key Personal Skill
Criteria: 1) self management and development; 2) managing tasks; 3) communicating clearly
and efficiently; 4) working with and relating to others; 5) apply knowledge; 6) applying
initiative in work problems.
In relation to this, students are provided with a Skills Development Plan sheet, mapping
their skills development against the six skills criteria. This needs to be completed one month
into their placement and they are additionally asked to complete on-going learning logs at
regular intervals throughout the placement. The portfolio is designed to enable individuals to
plan objectives for the placement year in collaboration with their manager/supervisor in order
to develop particular ‘transferable’ skills and abilities, and work-specific knowledge to enable
both the student and employer to benefit from the placement year.
Employer’s Assessment
An important part of the assessment if your appraisal of the students, which constitutes
part of the final mark that they receive. You will be e-mailed a link to an appraisal
questionnaire either in April or July depending on the assessment deadline. Additionally if
you are visited by the student’s academic tutor, they may ask you to complete a paper
appraisal during your meeting.
Supervision and Support from the University
Each student is assigned a member of University staff as their placement tutor. This tutor will
provide support to the student in monitoring personal development objectives, and in
producing the final written report. Where possible the tutor will visit the student in the
workplace. Students are allocated placement tutors during the first term of the year that they
are on placement. Some students will not be visited until they have worked for around 6- 9
months or unless a risk assessment dictates otherwise, but we hope that you will not be at all
reluctant to contact us if you feel that an earlier visit would be desirable.
Business Works staff are able to provide support to students and employers prior to the
allocation of placement tutors and are keen to provide an optional ‘settling-in’ visit early in the
placement year if requested.
Support from the Employer
Employers are required to appoint students with a line manager or mentor who will have
specific responsibility for the student throughout their placement. We also ask that employers
support students during their placement by assisting with the review of personal skill
objectives and by providing students with access to information for their report such as
company brochures and reports.
We encourage, where possible, the appointment of workplace mentor. As mentors are
usually more senior members of staff, and are not directly involved in the student’s daily
work, they are often more able to provide objective information and advice to individuals, and
to oversee the student’s development, both in the context of their day to day tasks, and their
skills development.
Grievances and early termination of the contract
Any complaints from the employer regarding a student’s conduct should be notified to the
University immediately, who will assist in resolving the matter wherever possible.
If an employer wishes to terminate a student’s contract, the University should be notified,
detailing the reason and the notice period give to the student.
University Events
Business Works organises a placement trial interview event for second year students where
employers visit the university and provide mock interviews to students seeking work
placements and provide feedback on their performance. This is an excellent opportunity to
meet potential future candidates and other placement employers.
If you would like more information on this or any other point, please do not hesitate to contact
at us at the number below.
Business Works
bus.works@londonmet.ac.uk
www.londonmet.ac.uk/lmbs/business-works
Telephone: 020 7320 1461 / 1462 / 1671 or 020 7133 3957 / 3972