INDUSTRIAL PLACEMENT
*INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS*
MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Science & Engineering
School of Engineering
Document1
1
K Duthie
Introduction
This document gives a brief overview of industrial training and sandwich placement
for second year students. The School of Engineering has been helping students to
find sandwich placements for nearly thirty years. We have an experienced team of
academic and administrative staff who are keen to help you find good quality
industrial training and make the most of it.
Sandwich placements are “real jobs”, hence as with any employment; you are
ultimately responsible for obtaining the placement. However, you will get plenty of
help in doing this. Our team will help you locate suitable placements and assist you in
applying and being successful at the interview. An “Industrial Placement Pack” is
available from the Student Life Office with information and advice on many aspects of
obtaining a placement. Staff will visit you whilst you are on placement to ensure that
you (and the company) are happy and getting the most out of the experience.
The Placement Team
The industrial placement team comprises:

Howard Taylor – Placements Tutor
Tel: 0161 247 3323, email: h.taylor@mmu.ac.uk

Katie Duthie – Placements Administrator
Student Life Office, Tel: 0161 247 5903, email: k.duthie@mmu.ac.uk
Why should I do a placement?
The benefits of taking a one-year sandwich placement are clear and overwhelming:
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You will earn money – Typical salaries for sandwich placement students range
from £12 000 to £18 000. Further, the tax that you pay on this salary is spread
over two financial years (you may even get a significant tax refund when you
finish your placement).
With over 400,000 students graduating in Britain each year, a placement will
make you more prominent in the job market. You will be able to put the
industrial experience on your CV giving you a head start over others.
You will get to sample life in a company of your choice and have a “trial run” at
your chosen career.
Many companies who take sandwich placement students will offer a full-time
post to good students. Some companies may even offer to sponsor students
through their final year.
You will develop practical skills and learn how to apply the techniques taught
at University to real problems. We generally find that sandwich placement
students do much better in the final year and most students feel that their final
degree award was improved by taking a placement.
Most students really enjoy their time on placement and come back to
University with renewed enthusiasm. In addition students benefit greatly from
the discipline involved in working in industry, which all means a more
successful final year of studies
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At the successful end of your course you will be awarded a “Sandwich
Degree” which indicates to potential employers that you have valuable
experience than some of your peers lack. Sandwich degree graduates
generally find it much easier to find first time employment.
Where can I work?
Over the years we have built up contacts with a large number of companies who can
provide the high standard of training that we expect. These companies vary widely, in
size, technological sector and location. They range from large, multi-national
companies to smaller family-run businesses covering sectors such as such as
manufacturing, information technology, media, power and process industries. Jobs
can range from design and development to marketing and sales. Some companies
are based in the North West, but we also have links with companies further afield and
even abroad.
ERASMUS Programme
Manchester Metropolitan University is a participant in the ERASMUS, which is set up
to fund work placements for Higher Education students or recent graduates in
Europe. The scheme operates through the International Office and can award grants
to students who want to take placements in Europe. The amount of funding available
varies from placement to placement, but is intended to cover the additional living and
travel costs that may arise from doing a placement abroad rather than in the UK.
Placement web sites
There are several searchable web sites specialising in placement and graduate
placement opportunities. Please see the ‘Vacancy Websites’ list that you received in
your Introductory Placement pack. These sites offer an excellent way to find a
placement.
What do I do next?
If you are interested in a sandwich placement opportunity it is essential that
you register your interest by filling in the IP1 form in the placement pack, and
return it to Katie in the Student Life Office. This will ensure that your details are
placed in the database and allow us to keep you informed of opportunities. It would
also be a good idea to call into the Student Life Office to introduce yourself to Katie
and to make sure that she has all your required details.
Katie will help to obtain application forms and arrange interviews with companies. It is
essential that you keep her well informed of developments and particularly any
correspondence sent directly to you rather than to MMU.
Placement vacancies start appearing in October, so you need to be prepared for
applying. It is important to make to most of these opportunities and get your CV
prepared early, get it checked and when free of errors, email it to Katie as a Word
Document. You should also get your CV checked by MMU Careers Service, and you
may find it useful to attend some of their workshops, advertised on the website:
http://www.mmu.ac.uk/careers/
SEEKING EMPLOYMENT
DEPARTMENT PLACEMENTS WEBSITE
Details of placement opportunities will be on the Department of Engineering and Technology
placements website:
http://www.sci-eng.mmu.ac.uk/placements/
Follow the link for “Placements” and then “Current Vacancies”. You will need to enter
the password “jobs1” to gain access.
You should also keep an eye on the Industrial Placement Notice board (on the
corridor wall opposite the Department Office, 3rd floor of John Dalton). Make sure that
you look at the web site or notice board regularly and contact Katie if you are
interested in anything.
Each job advert has details of the job, its location(s), a closing date for applications,
and whether you apply by Covering Letter and CV or application form. If the job
requires a Covering Letter and CV, you need to e-mail these to the Industrial
Placement Administrator. The Industrial Placement Administrator will then send the
applications to the employer by the closing date advertised.
If you are to apply by Application form, you must be especially careful not to
hand it in late, as companies will not look at applications that are overdue.
Companies carry out the selection process. This almost always involves at least one
interview and sometimes aptitude tests as well. These can take place at MMU or at
the company’s site. It is the students’ responsibility to prepare for these interviews.
Above all, be punctual, suitably dressed, positive and informed. Good
communication is an asset that all companies will want of their employees.
If an interview has been arranged and for any reason you cannot attend or are
delayed, make sure the company is informed immediately. In all cases the
Industrial Placement Tutor/Administrator must be kept informed.
Some organisations will arrange interviews directly with the student. If you receive a
letter/phone call directly, make sure you inform the Industrial Placement Assistant.
Usually, interviews will be made through the Industrial Placement Tutor/Assistant and
the details will be advertised on the notice board and website.
KEEP THE INDUSTRIAL PLACEMENT TUTOR/ADMINISTRATOR INFORMED OF
ANY INTERVIEWS/REJECTIONS/OFFERS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. WE CAN
ADVISE YOU MORE EFFECTIVELY IF WE ARE INFORMED OF YOUR CURRENT
SITUATION.
You will be obliged to take up the first offer of employment that you are given.
This prevents confusion for both companies and students. Because of the
competitive environment, we value each and every company who offers our students
places, and so we do not want to create problems or to put future opportunities into
jeopardy.
Making your own applications
As well as the vacancies that are advertised by the Department, students should also
look for placements from other sources.
There are many ways of finding opportunities:
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Network
- ask family/friends for contacts
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Newspapers
- local and national
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Publications
-Go Get, Prospects, Graduate Opportunities (available to
look at in the Careers Dept)
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Internet
There are many web sites – please see the list of
‘Vacancy Websites’ in this pack, or ask for a copy from
the Placements Administrator. You may also want to
search for a particular organisation’s website, if you are
interested in working for them. Yell.com is a useful place
to find companies, or Google.
Many large organisations now do all their recruitment using the Internet i.e. BT, Sun.
Note: Completing applications on the web needs the same care as a
normal written application.
 Work Placement and Subject Specific Recruitment Fairs - usually details can be
found on www.mmu.ac.uk/careers
Follow up any contacts made with a covering letter and a copy of your CV and direct
companies to the placements website for further information.
If you secure an interview, let us (placement tutor/administrator) know the
details.
DURING PLACEMENT
During your placement you will have an employee assigned to you who will be your
Industrial Supervisor. They will be a point of contact between you, the University and
the company.
When you start your placement, you will need to complete a form (IP2)
providing details such as your address whilst on placement, Industrial
Supervisor’s name and telephone number, etc. This must be completed and
returned promptly to the University, as it provides the contact details that
enable the Industrial Placement Tutor to arrange the academic visits to the
placement student.
REMEMBER that whilst you are on placement you are an employee of the company,
and therefore subject to the normal rules and discipline of that company. You may
find the transition from student to employee difficult. It is not unusual for a placement
student to feel overwhelmed/bored/confused, perhaps even unhappy for the first
month or two. The situation almost always improves!!! Starting any job is quite
stressful, and both you and the company need to adjust to your new role. If you have
problems, discuss them first with your Industrial Supervisor. If things are not
resolved, contact the Industrial Placement Tutor at University. Please remember that
the organisation cannot structure their operations around the presence of a
placement student.
You will need to keep a LOGBOOK of your activities during your placement. This will
be examined by your academic visitor (a tutor from University) who will aim to make
two visits during your placement (depending on distance needed to travel). Your
logbook will also serve as the basis for the end-of-placement REPORT which has to
be submitted before your return to University (you will receive details of the content
and format of the report later). During your placement, you will be ASSESSED by
your Industrial Supervisor and by your academic visitor.
Your placement will be assessed overall by the Industrial Supervisor’s reports,
the academic visitor’s reports and on your placement report. Students will
then receive a University Certificate detailing the company you worked with,
and the amount of weeks worked there. The placement grade will NOT count
towards your final degree award.
Further documentation and information will be provided before students start their
placement.
OVERSEAS OPPORTUNITIES
We have often placed students outside the UK. If you are keen to do your placement
abroad, and you have your own contacts, then this is the time to use them! Initiative
is always a good sign to an employer!
Let us give you some pros and cons for working abroad:
PROS
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Travelling and working abroad will always broaden your horizons and
experiences, and will look well for you on your future CV.
Improving your ability at a second language (particularly if at a European
placement) will benefit you for the future opportunities which will come about
as Europe moves towards being a closer community.
You will usually need at least GCSE/O-Level ability for such placement
opportunities.
Many graduate employers are asking for a second language, and a placement
abroad will show that you have recent experience of using one in a business
environment.
CONS
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There is always a culture difference, and usually a second language will be
the native one.
Job descriptions may not be as full and detailed as UK ones.
The process of setting up an overseas placement is usually a much longer
one, and it may be frustrating to watch other students being made offers in the
UK in the meantime. Your place may not be confirmed until Easter or later.
Remember, that if students are finding it hard to adjust to employment in the
UK, then adjusting in a different country might be a bit harder! You will not be
having long University holidays, so bear in mind the cost and convenience of
being able to return home.
Students who secure a place abroad will be encouraged to improve their language
skills before they take up their placement, but they are responsible for actively
doing this.
If you are interested in an overseas position, you must
indicate this on your IP1 form.
A – Z of some Placement Providers
Examples of just a few companies that have taken/interviewed placement students,
or advertised placements with the Department in past year:
3M
Abnormal Load Engineering
Adidas Group
Airbus
AkzoNobel
Alma Park School
ArvinMeritor
AstraZeneca
BAE Systems
Bentley Motors Limited
BMW group
Business Link Northwest
Coates Engineering (International)
Limited
Compass Minerals
Control Techniques
Corus
Cummins
David Brown Gear Systems
Dawson Group
Defence Science & Tech Lab
DePuy International Limited
Diamould
DriveWorks Ltd
Eaton Ltd
EchoStar Europe
Endress+Hauser
Fab Lab (Manufacturing Institute)
Faurecia
Fujitsu
General Electric
General Motors
GlaxoSmithKline
Government Communication HQ
Great Fridays
Gwynedd Council
Hewlett Packard CDS
IBM (UK) Ltd
Information Systems Aston
ITT waste & water mgmt
Jungheinrich Uk Ltd
Kellogg's
Kimberly-Clark
LabLogic
Lhasa Ltd
Lockheed Martin
Loedige systems GmbH
Magnox North
McVities
Mediavest
Mercedez Benz High Performance
Engines
Morsons Projects
National Grid
Nestle
Newland Engineering
Numatic International
Omerta Game Ltd
Otter Controls Ltd
Outokumpu
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Personal Touch Financial Services
Pfizer
Prysmian Cables & Systems
Pure Heating
Rolls Royce
Selex Galileo
Sellafield Ltd
Shell
Smiths Medical
SSL International PLC
STATUS (at MMU)
Stockport Grammar School
The Terry Group
The Unsigned Guide
The Year in Industry Scheme
TNT Express ICS
Triumph Motorcycles Ltd
United Aluminium
Upm-Kymmene
Vetcogray Control Ltd
WWCTV
Xerox