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Case Study
We engaged with Ben Borkowski who is studying a Construction & The Built Environment at T-Level. We offered an Industry Placement for Ben; a course requirement which best supports learning outcomes and employability. The placement was planned to support Ben to gain practical knowledge and give him genuine insight into the industry.

The Results
Ben started his industry work placement on site at the Ada Lovelace building, in October 2020. Ben fitted in well with the site team and buddied up with Midas’s Construction Technician Apprentice, who is studying a Level 3 Construction & the Built Environment apprenticeship, also at Exeter College. Ben was very willing to listen and learn, and impressed the whole team working with him. He chose the T-Level course because it was presented as a new, exciting course that provided experience in the industry alongside a structured learning programme.

Ben enjoyed his industry work placement with Midas because he got a wide view of the whole project, spending time with the site Quantity Surveyor, site Project Manager and Site Manager. He was involved in a number of tasks on site, including internal and external design elements; helping the Project Manager with design changes and tasked with helping to alter drawings.

Ben learnt that there were many necessary design and operational changes with the project and that, when managed efficiently, this does not cause issues or delays on site. To Ben, the biggest benefit of his industry work placement has been the demonstration of resource management and adapting to situations quickly and effectively. This is important to ensure that changes do not affect the project in a negative way.

The placement was put on hold due to the 3rd Covid-19 lockdown, at the college’s request. At this point, 10 placement days at the Ada Lovelace project had been completed. Due to the project having been handed over during this period, Midas has agreed for Ben to recommence his placement in mid-April 2021, based at Midas’s Exeter office.

Transferrable Solutions
Ben’s industry work placement has demonstrated how valuable work experience is to both students and the industry. It has not only reinforced his interest in working in construction; but has also introduced him to new roles and has provided an insight to what it is like working on a construction site.

Midas recognises the value and success of offering meaningful work experience at our sites and offices. Not only does it help us to achieve Employment & Skills Plan and Social Value targets; but helps shape and develop the future workforce of our industry. Ben said: “I would definitely recommend the T-level to people who are not sure on what area of construction they want to go into, as it opens doors and covers a lot of topics relevant to many different roles. “As well as the variety of subjects, the industry placement is excellent because no level of teaching beats real world experience of situations and problems. “You can also do multiple work placements to get a wide range of experience. You are not tied to the first placement and there will always be companies looking to provide work experience as it can help them find potential employees and apprentices.”

UPDATE – October 2021

“I liked the idea of the T Level because it gives you industry experience while still providing a good amount of content. My industry placement is with Midas. I want to go into site management and Midas is a large contractor, building very innovative buildings, so it was a perfect fit.

“My industry placement is going very well, and I am enjoying seeing the project move forward every week. I get on well with the site and project manager and have also done some work with the quantity surveyor which was helpful in demonstrating what happens day to day for the whole site team.”

Following my T Level, I plan to do a Degree Apprenticeship in Construction Management and then go on to be a Site Manager through Project Management, then Contracts Management.”

 

To find out more about Apprenticeships in Construction and the Built Environment:  https://buildinggreaterexeter.co.uk/individuals/