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WorkReady Partnership

The WorkReady Partnership is an initiative which supports, promotes and rewards employers and students who participate in work placements. If you provide quality, meaningful work placements, you can display a WorkReady Partnership logo. This accreditation showcases your investment in future skills.

There is no cost to be a WorkReady Partner; all you need to do is provide work placements for UCM students.

Does this apply to my industry?

Work placements are an essential part of the course for most of the students at UCM; as well as giving them important work-based encounters, it is often part of the criteria for the qualification they are studying.

With a wide range of subject areas at UCM, work placements are needed across our whole curriculum:

  • Hairdressing & Barbering
  • Creative Media
  • IT / Digital
  • Business (administration, marketing, finance, customer services, human resources etc)
  • Hospitality & catering
  • Beauty Therapy
  • Childcare & early years education
  • Health & social care
  • Construction
  • Engineering
  • Motor Vehicle

10 reasons to get involved:

  1. Recognise Quality: Position your organisation as a leader in investing in people.
  2. Attract Ambitious Talent: Draw in motivated young people who can contribute fresh and innovative ideas to your business.
  3. Fill Skills Gaps: Help develop the essential skills that your industry requires by working with young people.
  4. Enhance Staff Development: Foster mentoring and management skills among your existing team members.
  5. Contribute to the Community: Make a meaningful impact in your local community through engagement and assist in preparing individuals in your community for the workforce.
  6. Access New Resources: Gain valuable insights and additional resources for current projects.
  7. Reduce Recruitment Expenses: Minimise hiring costs by evaluating potential young talent through a low-risk, no-obligation placement opportunity, and strengthen your recruitment pipeline to meet your business's needs.
  8. Enhance your CSR Profile: Being accredited highlights the company’s commitment to societal impact, which can be showcased in CSR reports and marketing.
  9. Boost Brand Reputation: The accreditation can be used as a marketing tool, improving the business’s reputation as a desirable place to work and partner with.
  10. Get involved: Accredited organisations will be invited to key events including our employability and careers events, Graduates’ Ceremony and The UCM Awards. As well as opportunities to network with our students as guest speaker.

how to get involved:

Gaining WorkReady Partner status is easy, all you need to do is provide your details to us and commit to providing one (or more) work placements for UCM students for three years.

  1. Fill in this online form.
  2. Our Employability & Skills Coordinator or a lecturer in the subject area will be in touch (and they will ask you to complete any health & safety checks).
  3. You’ll receive the logo package which you can use digitally (on things like email footers, website and social media) printed or on your signage.
  4. Support UCM students with work placements for three years.
  5. We’ll contact you after three years to renew.

Already provide work placements for UCM students?

We’ll be in touch to check you’re happy to commit to providing placements for three years, and then we will send you the logo package.

need more info? Get in touch

Caroline Walter, Employability Skills Coordinator

caroline.walter@ucm.ac.im

(01624) 648300

 

Other ways you can support future skills

  • Guest Speakers/Lecturers - Guest lecturers visit UCM to speak with a specific subject / course. This may be on a specific specialist subject or around your experience in the industry. You may also be asked to judge skills competitions or get involved in something more practical.
  • Part-time / Seasonal Employment - Students on a full-time course at UCM are typically in lectures three days a week which means most students seek part time employment alongside their studies and/or during holidays. Employment in the same industry as they are studying not only supports the students’ learning but gives employers the opportunity to develop and select future full-time employees.
  • Workplace Visits - Visiting a workplace gives students a great insight into a workplace, expected behaviours, range of careers and progressions.This can be as short as a 2-hour visit.
  • Employability Events - Throughout the year, UCM hosts employability events to support students’ development. Employers can get involved in one or more of these events.
  • On-site Projects - During this encounter, students visit your workplace to take part in a project (real or simulated). This might be one visit to undertake a project workshop, or have multiple session to see a project’s lifecycle.
  • Research Projects - Our undergraduate and postgraduate students undertake research projects in conjunction with employers. This is a great opportunity for employers to gain support with research their organisation needs to undertake or develop.
  • Internships - Employers offer paid/unpaid internships to provide work experience for students alongside their studies and/or during holidays.
  • Event Sponsorships - We host key events, such as our Graduates’ Ceremony, The UCM Awards, Skills Test and The Research Festival, which organisation can sponsor. Not only are these great opportunities to align your brand with UCM and future skills, but you receive plenty of positive PR, social media coverage and engagement with those who take part, visit the event and our students. Find out more at www.ucm.ac.im/sponsorship