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Winner in the Between 10 - 250 Employees Category

CHA - The Workplace Communications Consultancy

Photo: Chris Maunder (CHA), Mike Hill (Graduate Prospects) and Charlotte Sherry (CHA)

CHA, a Public Relations consultancy, offers four three-month placements per year (one every three months). The organisation aims to offer the placement student a job on completion of their placement. So far they have been able to do this for five out of seven placements.

The involvement the placement student has within the company, as well as the level of which placement students are valued impressed the judges. Placement students get involved in client meetings, speak to journalists and work on assigned accounts. "Students bring in fresh blood, fresh ideas, enthusiasm and diversity" comments one CHA employee.

Placement students at CHA receive a high level of support including mentoring, coaching and regular feedback. They are also able to get involved in any in-house training the company is undertaking.

The application process for the CHA work experience students is the same as that for a permanent junior role, involving CV application, a telephone interview, spelling and grammar test, a second interview and a further written test which involves meeting and writing a report on the experiences of a current placement student.

The work experience scheme has benefited CHA by saving them over £25,000 in recruitment costs within two years, with over half of the staff at CHA comprising current or past students. Two previous placement students are now managers within the company, highlighting the high calibre of students attracted to the placements.

Key Success Factors

  • Recognising the company benefits of work placements, including the development opportunities for junior management when acting as mentors.
  • The high value placed on placement students as a part of the team and as potential future employees.
  • Placement students are invited to participate in all in house training, emphasising a commitment to the development of work skills.
""In a small team its great to welcome new people who bring unbridled energy, ideas and enthusiasm!" - Rebecca Jones, Managing Director CHA."
""I'm developing excellent communication skills through writing ideas for stories, telephone conversations, dealing with clients and journalists." - Current Placement student."