Hosting students on construction sites
Introduction
This resource provides guidance and practical solutions for employers in the construction sector when hosting students onsite during their placement.
Who it’s for
It will be useful for any employer in the construction sector that:
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- Isn’t sure whether they can or should host an industry placement including on site experience
- Wants to offer a placement but doesn’t feel confident about planning the onsite element
- Has already experienced issues with placements on site
It is relevant to employers of all sizes and any aspect of construction and to T Levels in:
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- Building Services Engineering
- Design, Surveying and Planning
- Onsite Construction
What’s in the resource
Practical considerations – Video
The video shows two employers discussing some of the practical considerations of hosting students on construction sites.
Key factors when hosting students on site – Checklist
The checklist lists 21 key factors that employers should consider when planning and delivering placements on site. These factors are organised in seven categories:
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- Health and safety
- Legal, compliance and insurance
- Transport and access
- Site-specific safety induction
- Supervision and monitoring
- Skills
- Attributes
Value of onsite experience – Summary
The summary lists the main reasons why onsite experience is valuable to:
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- The student
- The employer
Examples
These two examples show:
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- What the students did onsite during their placement
- How the experience helped them to decide on and prepare for a career in the construction industry
Video – Practical considerations when hosting students on construction sites
The video shows the two employers talking about how to:
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- Set expectations for students and staff
- Timetable staff to supervise students
- Plan onsite projects and activities
- Share placement activities across sites and partners
- Help students to learn from the experience of working on site
The two employers featured in the videos are:
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- Tanjila Ali, Assistant Sustainability Data Manager in Wilmott Dixon, one of the UK's top independent construction and property services companies
- Phil Eves, Employment & Skills Coordinator in BAM Construction, a leading construction, facilities management and property developer
Checklist – Key factors when hosting students on site
Download the checklist and use it to:
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- Plan the onsite element of a placement
- Check that existing placements are well organised
Summary and examples – Value of onsite experience
Placements on site provide a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between learning skills and knowledge in the classroom or workshop and applying them in real-life situations.
Value to employers
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- By having students on site, employers:
- Gain fresh perspectives and new ideas about their onsite working practices
- Contribute to the development of future talent by giving students the chance to learn and apply their skills in a real-world construction setting
- May feel more confident about offering students a job or apprenticeship after their T Level because they have shown they are capable of working on site in demanding conditions
- Enhance their reputation with clients and in the industry by demonstrating their commitment to education and training
Value to students
From their time working on site, students:
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- Gain first-hand experience with construction techniques, tools, and equipment
- Encounter real-world challenges and learn how to problem-solve in a dynamic and often demanding environment
- Become familiar with industry standards, regulations, and best practices
- Learn to work in teams, collaborate with colleagues, and communicate effectively
- Develop essential skills like time management, adaptability, and problem-solving
- Have the chance to connect with professionals in the industry, forming valuable relationships and gaining insights into potential career paths
- Can determine if a career in construction is right for them
- Can start to prepare for future employment opportunities either in their placement employer or elsewhere
Examples
Student: Fatima Wonto Saidykhan
Employer: Morgan Sindall Construction
T Level: Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction
Progression to: Trainee site manager and degree apprenticeship
“My industry placement was with Morgan Sindall at the Priscilla Bacon Hospice in Norwich. I worked there one a day a week doing on-site activities like quality inspections, joining meetings and walking the client round the site. I helped the site manager check the drawings, making sure they matched the client’s specification and seeing what they'd missed out. I also helped the quantity surveyor by making sure that pricings were right on the tenders from subcontractors.
“The placement was interesting because no two days were the same and every project was different. Doing the placement was the main reason why I decided to go on to a career in site management when I finished the T Level.
Helen Clements, Senior Social Value Manager, Morgan Sindall Construction East:
“Fatima succeeded on the placement because she had lots of energy and drive and really put herself out for us. She looked for different experiences onsite and put herself through her CSCS card during the holidays. She drove us rather than us driving, if that makes sense.
“That’s probably the main difference from other students, the use of initiative and the ability to demonstrate a hunger for the future. Being a female from an ethnic minority group on a construction site must have been quite challenging. She’s had to push herself to be successful and that says a lot about her. She’s a great role model for others and I’m keen for her to go out and promote that message so we get more people like her on T Levels.”
Student: Ahana
Employer: BAM Construction Midlands Limited
T Level: Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction
Progression to: Trainee site manager and Level 4 apprenticeship
“I finished my T Level earlier this summer, then in September I started a Level 4 apprenticeship at BAM Construction where I did my industry placement.
“After being on my placement, I definitely understand that I enjoy site management a lot. I loved going out on site and working with project managers, architects and structural engineers. Getting to see how their life is throughout the day really helped me understand what I want to do.
“I think I developed as a person from that experience as well. When you start the T Level placement, you have to go on site to talk to people, you have to engage a lot to understand everything. It made me feel a lot more confident, more comfortable on my assessment day for a job as well. I kind of knew the people who were there so I could talk to them about what I’d done on the placement, and that definitely helped a lot.
“I'll be back on site with BAM in November. I'm not sure what project I'll be working on yet, but I'm looking forward to it. I'm really excited. I know they're going to put me on a really good site.”
Phil Eves, Employment & Skills Coordinator at BAM Construction:
“Ahana did part of her placement on a major construction site and part in an architect’s office. Her first idea was to become an architect, but she enjoyed her time on site much more than in the office so that changed her mind about the kind of job she wanted to do.
“I definitely saw her develop during the placement, by seeing what’s involved in a big construction project and getting involved in the work herself. She also learned to communicate with managers and colleagues. Her placement experience definitely gave her an advantage over some of the other candidates, being able to say ‘Oh yes, I’ve done that and this is how you do it’.
"I could definitely see Ahana making a career in the industry. There's a huge emphasis on net zero construction now and that could be one area for her to make a contribution."
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