Student toolkit Work placements in the creative industries: good placements for all students
A practical guidance toolkit for students This toolkit has been developed from a year long research project with students, university staff and work placement employers. It provides factors for consideration and useful links to ensure you have a successful placement experience. A successful work placement prior to entering the job market can make a real difference to your learning experience and be highly beneficial to your future employability in arts and cultural industries. Networking opportunities and gain industry contacts Gain first hand industry experience Greater confidence and ability to sell yourself Acquire industry specific skills and knowledge Benefits of undertaking a work placement Enhance your academic achievement Improve your employability Identify your strengths and areas for improvement Develop greater career prospects
However, there is evidence highlighting a lack of diversity within the arts and cultural sector, which is important for you to be aware of. == Women make up over two-thirds of the student population on creative arts and design courses, but less than two-fifths of the creative industries workforce. == Nearly 12% of creative workers have a work-limiting disability and/or are disabled as compared against the UK workforce average of around 14%. == Men are underrepresented in the visual arts and cultural heritage sectors. == Black and minority ethnic representation in design stands at 6%. == Over half (54%) of those working in the creative industries are below the age of 40, with the largest single age group being 25-29 years old. Differing levels of representation can impact upon your placement experience. We found that not all students have equal access to placements, or the support to succeed whilst on placement. I didn t tell anyone about my epilepsy. I just don t like people judging me, looking at me differently. Finding a placement is about being lucky enough to have a contact through a friend or family.
I always kind of felt a little out of place. At the gallery, the first two times they had private views I was already aware that I was the only Asian person there. With the web-design placement I didn t see or feel any discrimination, I just noticed that it was this big white building and this big white box and these big white tables and big white computer and the people who worked there were white. You feel that you re lower than them, it was even the way they talked. You know like really proper. Obviously you should talk properly and all that, but it just throws you off a little bit when you arrive. It s like you ve not got enough money and the people you work with have a totally different lifestyle. In the future it s going to be about finding a space where I m going to fit in. But you should not feel deterred from accessing a work placement. If you are struggling to find a suitable placement or if you are experiencing difficulties while on placement, your university or placement employer should be able to provide support. Remember, universities have a duty of care to you, and employers cannot discriminate against you on the grounds of age, disability, gender, pregnancy or maternity status, race, religion or belief or sexual orientation. You can also help yourself by considering the follow factors to ensure you have can access a good placement and have an enjoyable and beneficial experience.
Locations There is an imbalanced distribution of the sector, with the majority of organisations in London or other large cities. It may be necessary to live in or travel to a large city to access placements. The majority of placements are unpaid or low-paid. This can discriminate against students who can t afford to undertake a placement voluntarily. Finance Your university may provide bursaries for placements. You may be entitled to financial support for your placement from Access to Work funds or government initiatives. Some students gain access to placements through industry contacts they or their friends and families may have. Contacts Factors to consider when finding a work placement University services If you do not have direct access to industry contacts you could speak with your course tutor, personal tutor, or your university careers office for potential contacts. You can also independently approach employers to ask for a placement. Your university should have a careers office which provides assistance and support throughout your placement. Check if your institution advertises placements in the careers office. Investigate whether there are any work placement schemes you can apply to. Length of placement Disability disclosure Preparation The length of placements will depend on whether it is part of your course or an independent placement. It is important to consider your other responsibilities, such as a part time job or care responsibilities, and how you will balance these whilst on your placement. If you have a disability, prior to starting your placement you need to consider if you wish to disclose your disability and whether you require any reasonable adjustments. Your tutor, careers adviser or equality and diversity officer may be able to advise you with this and how to prepare. Before starting your placement visit external organisations websites for advice and guidance. You may also want to see if you can speak with other students who ve already done work placements.
Making the most of your placement == Find out about the placement employer so that you are prepared. You could do this by looking at the employer s website, sourcing articles, reviews, and samples of work. == Ask the employer to set out their expectations, and agree any requirements or adjustments you may need to meet these. == Find out if the employer will provide a mentor to support you on your placement. == Confirm if there is a named contact in your university for you to report and feed back to. == Keep a record of your experiences and the skills you have developed whilst on placement. == Use the placement to identify your strengths and any new areas for development. == Talk to your employer and colleagues about future job opportunities and career paths. == If you have any concerns over the way you are treated during your placement, share them with your tutor, named contact or placement officer, outlining what the issue is and possible solutions. == Be aware of your rights in the workplace, especially in relation to pay and working hours, to ensure you are treated fairly. Check your rights at www.rightsforinterns.org.uk and www.equalityhumanrights.com/your-rights/ young-people-know-your-rights