Read about the experience of our previous Summer Placements.
Placement overview
Wishaw & Shotts IDS operate a service within two units over five days, supporting individuals the opportunity to access their community, providing social interaction and support to achieve individual goals and outcomes.
What motivated you to apply for the summer placement programme?
I was motivated to apply to the summer placement as it was giving me the opportunity to work with the community and have experience in the working life. Also giving me the opportunity to get an idea of what I will be experiencing in my future career which is adult nursing.
What have been the key benefits of participating in the summer placement programme?
The key benefits of participating in the summer placement are gaining the skills and qualities needed in this profession, such as, communication skills, teamwork, handing personal care plans, and helping to everyone's needs.
What types of support have your received during your summer placement role?
I have received extreme support from the seniors within the team, they have helped me through my training and online training, helping me get to know the job and everything included within it, and being that helping hand for whenever I need it. I am very thankful for them as I have felt a part of the team with their guidance.
What advice would you offer to someone considering applying for a summer placement?
Do it! It's a great experience for young people to get into. For the sake of 6 weeks and what you learn within that time frame is unbelievable. It's also very rewarding and a great foot in the right direction if any of the programmes are what you aspire to be in your future career.
What are your career aspirations and how has the summer placement programme influenced them?
The summer placement programme in adult health and social care helps me get to realise that everyone has personal needs and personal care plans, and how everyone requires different needs. It's a great way to gain experience and to put on university applications and it shows dedication and the willingness to learn.
Manager feedback
“During placement Keir displayed excellent values and developed his relationship with staff and service users within IDS. Keir conducted himself in a professional manner and demonstrated good communication skills when conversing with service users, taking his time to listen, following instruction and using his initiative to discuss any concerns with the duty senior.
Keir is popular with both staff and service users at the IDS. I’m sure Keir will be successful in his chosen career within the team at IDS wish him well for the future”.
Placement overview
Hayley is part of a team of sport coaches responsible for delivering NLC Sport Development Sport Camps to participants aged 5 to 12 years of age. Her day consists of interacting with the children booked in for sport camps, delivering fun and safe sport sessions and ensuring participants overall safety and enjoyment while children attend the camps.
What motivated you to apply for a summer placement programme?
Throughout my last years at school, we have had many representatives from the council who came to advertise this placement. I have been really interested in gaining the experience with working with kids in an environment like the sports camps. I also love meeting new people and this is an amazing opportunity for this.
What have been the key benefits of participating in the summer placement programme?
I have mainly loved getting to know many new faces and working with kids of many different abilities. I really enjoy this working environment and gaining the experiences of coaching is an amazing bonus.
What types of support have your received during your summer placement role?
I have regular chats with the managers here at Ravenscraig, they are extremely welcoming and supportive through any help I may need. The rest of the coaches are amazing at making you feel included and helping to guide you whilst taking sessions.
I also receive regular check up emails from the summer placement team ensuring I am supported all throughout this placement.
What advice would you offer to someone considering applying for a summer placement?
I would advise any coaches to get as involved as possible as it is a great job. Not only do you gain all this experience and qualifications, but you also have a great time. An amazing way to spend your summer whilst also making money and memories.
What are your career aspirations and how has the summer placement programme influenced them?
I aspire to be a sports physiotherapist in the future and possibly work for sports teams. This job is a great experience for my future career as I can work with many different people including kids and fellow coaches. Learning how to adapt to different age groups and kids of different abilities helps to support me for my future career.
Manager feedback
“Throughout Hayley's time working within our Sport Camps, she has been an excellent role model for the children. She consistently demonstrates enthusiasm and professionalism and is always willing to get involved in the coaching aspects of the camps. Hayley has integrated exceptionally well with the wider team, including fellow summer placement students and NLC Sport Coaches, building positive relationships and contributing to a supportive and enjoyable environment for both staff and participants”.
Placement overview
Shahzaib joined the Summer Digital Placement Programme and has made an excellent contribution from the outset taking every opportunity to broaden his understanding of digital services across the council. He has supported residents with digital inclusion activities, gained exposure to areas such as data analytics and housing services
What motivated you to apply for a summer placement programme?
I had friends who had done the placement in different teams in previous years, and they spoke to me about it. Their experience was phenomenal and I wanted part of that. I noticed they had a digital technology placement which would give me a first-hand experience of computing in a work-based environment.
What have been the key benefits of participating in the summer placement programme?
The hours are really good; it feels long enough to feel like a proper job but it’s short enough that you aren’t exhausted by the end of the day. The team you work with is an amazing benefit and exploring different areas of the council like data analytics, housing, and much more, all in a tech-based environment is really interesting.
What types of support have your received during your summer placement role?
My team has three managers and all three support me in many ways. They have given me the opportunity to look at different technological aspects during my time working in the summer placement. I had an issue with prayer times overlapping with working times on Fridays however my manager supported me in working around this and we concluded how we’ll manage it. The support I have received from all my managers is remarkable.
There is support and guidance individually assigned to each placement with weekly offer of support on any aspect of the placement and give you a chance to make your needs apparent in a private space.
What advice would you offer to someone considering applying for a summer placement?
The people applying realise you are 16-18, they realise you may not have a significant amount of experience so don’t stress over this aspect. When you get accepted one piece of advice is any questions, anything you are interested in and anything in general ALWAYS because you will have amazing opportunities.
What are your career aspirations and how has the summer placement programme influenced them?
I wanted to go into computing/technology previously and this summer placement has only strengthened my desire to go into this. It gave me a direct look at educating people on technology, and it gave me an experience on data analytics. It has only strengthened my love for technology
Manager feedback
“Shahzaib has been an outstanding placement student who has consistently demonstrated enthusiasm, curiosity and a genuine passion for technology. He has approached every task with a positive attitude, shown confidence in engaging with colleagues and residents, and taken a proactive approach to learning about different areas of digital services. His willingness to ask questions, seek new opportunities and develop his knowledge has been particularly impressive. Shahzaib has made a positive impact on the team and has shown excellent potential for a future career in computing or technology. We are delighted with his progress and wish him every success in his future studies and career”.
Placement overview
Mya has been working as a library assistant providing a high level of customer service, helping with activities, assisting customers with PC use, creating displays and ensuring the library looks tidy and attractive to users.
What motivated you to apply for a summer placement programme?
I wanted to progress my experience working with people as well as dealing with different systems and routines, also because I love physical media such as books in the library
What have been the key benefits of participating in the summer placement programme?
Experience working with the public face to face as well as on the phone, operating different systems with not only the books but also with printing and photocopying.
What types of support have your received during your summer placement role?
Shadowing or buddying on the counter so if I get stuck there is someone there to guide me, getting the guidance of how the books are shelved, returned, reserved and taken out.
What advice would you offer to someone considering applying for a summer placement?
Communication, if you need help or you’re unsure just ask instead of worrying or panicking because there will always be someone there to help you with whatever you’re having trouble with.
What are your career aspirations and how has the summer placement programme influenced them?
After having spent time in the placement, a library assistant would now be the ideal job for me personally because of the shifts and just the overall job is something I’d be happy doing as a career/job .
Manager feedback
“Having Mya with us has been a delight. She has picked things up quickly and is great with customers, especially the younger ones. She is always willing and happy to do any tasks assigned to her”.
Placement overview
Blair has been working with McTaggart Construction customer care team. Carrying out repairs with the joiner on affordable housing across North Lanarkshire and Glasgow
What motivated you to apply for a summer placement programme?
When I saw the job advertised, I thought it would be a really good opportunity to gain experience and some skills in the trade
What have been the key benefits of participating in the summer placement programme?
It has been a fantastic experience and It’s got me in a great routine and has really helped with my time management skills.
What types of support have your received during your summer placement role?
McTaggarts have been brilliant, they have shown and taught me things about the trade I didn’t know and teaching me the best way to do things. The Summer Placement Team have been great with instructions on what’s happening and where I would be going, they helped settle the nerves a lot.
What advice would you offer to someone considering applying for a summer placement?
Go for it, don’t be nervous make the best of the opportunity and ask questions.
What are your career aspirations and how has the summer placement programme influenced them?
I still definitely want to be a joiner and this whole experience has solidified this.
Manager feedback
“Blair has been a pleasure to have on the team during the placement, we wish him every success in the future”.
Placement overview
During her placement with the Design Management team, Emma has gained an insight into the day-to-day role of a Design Manager in Construction. She has spent time both in the office and on site, allowing her to experience the balance between design coordination and construction activities.
The placement has been designed to provide Emma with practical experience of a Design Management role while developing her understanding of the design process, project coordination and the delivery of a large-scale construction project.
What motivated you to apply for a summer placement programme?
I believed that it would be a great opportunity to learn about the industry in which I'm hoping I work in when I am older. The placement would provide me with a greater understanding of this such as day-to-day tasks, what sites are like, and so much more.
What have been the key benefits of participating in the summer placement programme?
During my placement so far, I have been able to talk to lots of different people in the company about their role in the business and what they do every week. This has helped me to understand lots more different roles and what they need to do to make sure that everything goes as planned.
What types of support have your received during your summer placement role?
I always have something to do and someone always checking in on me to make sure I understand what it is that I am doing, I also know that I can ask questions if I am a bit confused on what it is that I am doing. I also had someone from the council come out and have a catch up with me on what I have been doing and how I have been getting on.
What advice would you offer to someone considering applying for a summer placement?
I would 100% recommend taking part as it will give you a great experience to understand what a workplace environment is like, and it is a great way to really understand what your future job could look like. Even if you are slightly unsure what job you would be interested in, in the future, a summer placement can help you understand if a certain career is right for you, the placement might even influence you to go down another career path!
What are your career aspirations and how has the summer placement programme influenced them?
I am looking to work in construction when I am older, this has been influenced by the summer placement as I was originally hoping to be an architect and design houses, however, from looking at some of the projects here, I hope to do some kind of job that is maybe still is an architect, or maybe something similar, but I would like a job that relates to commercial building. I hope that my future job is similar to my placement, I have enjoyed working in an office, whilst also getting a site visit, it has been a good balance, and I hope for something similar in my future.
Manager feedback
“Emma joined her summer placement with a genuine interest in the construction industry, particularly architecture, and has been enthusiastic about learning more about how projects are delivered. Throughout her placement, she has approached every task with a positive attitude and has been fully engaged in all activities, whether in the office or out on site. Emma has been a pleasure to have on placement and has made excellent use of the opportunity. We wish Emma every success with her future studies and are confident that she has a bright future ahead of her”.
Placement overview
During his placement Ben has gained an insight into the day-to-day role of a Design Manager in Construction both in the office and on site, The placement has been designed to provide Ben with practical experience of a Design Management role while developing an understanding of the design process, project coordination and the delivery of a large-scale construction project.
What motivated you to apply for a summer placement programme?
I wanted to get the experience of working for the first time to decide if this was something that I wanted to do in the future.
What have been the key benefits of participating in the summer placement programme?
I have gained a significant confidence boost and feel that this opportunity has helped me gain so many new skills.
What types of support have your received during your summer placement role?
I have had a colleague in the same department with me for most days that are very welcoming and friendly who also let me ask as many questions as needed.
What are your career aspirations and how has the summer placement programme influenced them?
I really enjoyed my summer placement, and I think the area I worked in at my placement is a very possible contender for my future career.
What advice would you offer to someone considering applying for a summer placement?
I would say that it is an excellent opportunity to get the experience of work and that it looks really good on your CV and helps you decide if it's what you want to do in the future.
Manager feedback
“Ben is a very talented and bright young man. He was a great addition to our team, and I hope he enjoyed his time in SHEQ department. I wish Ben all the best in the future and good luck with the career path he decides to choose”.
