Become a Professional Training placement provider
At undergraduate level, we run a renowned Professional Training placement programme. Placements allow students to apply their intellectual skills to help your organisation achieve its goals, and simultaneously give students the chance to gain valuable experience of a real-world music and media environment.
Why employ a Professional Training placement student?
- A flexible low-cost recruitment solution for up to 12 months
- Access to specific skills and knowledge that can benefit your business
- Experience an enthusiastic and fresh approach to your business needs
- Give existing staff the opportunity to supervise and mentor a student
- Get a head start on identifying and recruiting the best graduates for your company
- Students can act as excellent ambassadors of your company when returning to the University
How does the placement scheme work?
- Placements run for a minimum of 46 working weeks, excluding any time taken as annual leave
- Placements can start anytime during the summer (July to September)
- Students are provided with a designated workplace supervisor and training throughout the duration of the placement
- Each individual is supported by an academic tutor during their placement; there are two on-site visits over the course of the year
- There is a competitive, open recruitment process in which employers choose suitable applicants
- A tripartite agreement is signed between the University, student and employer outlining the responsibilities of all parties
- We provide support to your organisation and our students throughout the whole placement
What would a placement student do?
All of our students have a good grounding in the theory of music, acoustics, electronics and analogue and digital audio, and experience of musical performance, acoustic analysis, electronic testing and construction, programming, recording, mixing and editing. Their role in the company might involve fetching and carrying, filing, documentation, logging, archiving, customer support, testing, cabling, maintenance, prototyping, programming, rigging, de-rigging, recording, mixing, editing, etc. The placement should allow the student to:
- Apply theory and develop technical skills in practical and operational contexts
- Develop transferable skills, including team-working, inter-personal skills, prioritisation
- Planning and time-management
- Develop their understanding of the industry, including commercial aspects
- Develop and demonstrate their ability to work independently
- Demonstrate inventiveness, creativity and initiative.
Previous partners
We have regular placements in recording (e.g. Abbey Road, Floating Earth), broadcast (e.g. Sky), film and TV sound (e.g. Ben Holland Sound Limited), installation and maintenance (e.g. Environ Audio), research and development (e.g. Focusrite), acoustic consultancy (e.g. Hann Tucker), education (e.g. Guildhall School of Music & Drama) and product management and support (e.g. Ableton).
What happens when
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Jan 2019 - Feb 2019 | Students apply for placements. For our BSc (Hons) or BMus (Hons) Music and Sound Recording (Tonmeister) course, the Senior Professional Training Placement tutor will contact employers directly. |
| Mar 2019 | For our BSc (Hons) or BMus (Hons) Music and Sound Recording (Tonmeister) course, student CVs become available to employers. |
| Mar 2019 - May 2019 | Student interviews held at host organisations (or at University). |
| Mar 2019 - May 2019 | Placement agreements completed. |
| Jun 2019 - Sep 2019 | Placements begin. |
| Aug 2019 - Aug 2020 | Visits to each student and employer from a placement tutor. |
| Jun 2020 - Sep 2020 | Placements finish. |
Contact us:
BSc (Hons) or BMus (Hons) Music and Sound Recording (Tonmeister) enquiries
Dr Tim Brookes, Senior Placement Tutor
BMus (Hons) Music enquiries
Dr Chris Wiley
BSc (Hons) Film and Video Production Technology enquiries
Dr Femi Adeyemi-Ejeye