Three former Bury College students have progressed into permanent paid roles at local fire safety business Freedom Fire after completing their T Level industry placements.
Bill and Gabriel studied the T Level Technical Qualification in Digital Software Development, while Harrison completed T Level Management and Administration: Team Leadership/Management. Their placements provided them the opportunity to apply their knowledge in the workplace, develop new skills, and take on real responsibilities.
Developing digital skills through real projects
Bill and Gabriel gained hands-on experience of web development, ecommerce and digital marketing during their placements at Freedom Fire. Bill worked on website development and ecommerce systems, helping to build the systems the business uses to manage orders and shipments, alongside managing domains, email platforms and the company's social media accounts. Gabriel contributed to the company's digital marketing activity, developing a content plan and preparing two years' worth of blog content, as well as gaining experience in social media, data entry and customer email databases.
Working together, the pair developed a new website, which is due to launch in November, and online storefronts from scratch. This gave them the opportunity to apply their technical knowledge to a real business project and produce work that will support the company's ongoing development. Alongside his permanent position at Freedom Fire, Bill is studying Software Engineering at the University of Salford, where he hopes to further develop his knowledge.
Building confidence and leadership skills
Harrison chose his T Level in Management and Administration because he wanted to understand how a business operates, with the industry placement providing an opportunity to see this first-hand. During his time at Freedom Fire, he gained experience across warehouse operations, including stock control, picking and packing orders, managing returns and customer enquiries, and coordinating deliveries. As he developed his skills, Harrison also took on greater responsibility for supporting colleagues and helping to keep daily operations running smoothly.
One of the biggest changes has been his confidence in communicating with others and speaking in front of groups. He explained: “Giving a presentation now isn't overwhelming; it has become second nature to me. My experiences on placement have made me a lot more confident.” Harrison also praised the experience for strengthening his organisational skills and giving him a better understanding of the responsibilities involved in supporting a team.
Recognising potential in future employees
For Freedom Fire owner Tom Letcher, the placements have provided an opportunity to bring fresh ideas into the business while identifying and developing future employees. Having seen the progress made by all three students, Tom believes employers can benefit from looking beyond qualifications and interview performance to recognise the potential of young people.
Reflecting on what he looks for in prospective employees, he said: “Attitude is huge. I'm a big believer in a lot of young people, and if you've got a good attitude, regardless of ability, you'll go far.”
Tom believes T Level students bring creativity, fresh perspectives and an understanding of technology that can help businesses develop. He also sees value in supporting students as they learn, allowing them to build their skills and become familiar with the business. The work completed by Bill and Gabriel demonstrates the impact students can have when given the opportunity to take ownership of real projects, with their website and online storefronts estimated to have cost around £40,000 if commissioned through an external agency.
For Tom, however, the benefits go beyond the work itself. He encourages other employers to give young people the time and support to demonstrate what they can achieve, particularly those who may not stand out through traditional recruitment processes. He said: “The people who are quiet, the people who are sat at the back of the room, the ones who are nervous and might be struggling to come out of their shell are the guys that, I've found, end up doing very well.”
Supporting the next generation
Following the success of its first T Level cohort, Freedom Fire is continuing its partnership with Bury College, with hopes to host three more students this academic year. The next group will have the opportunity to gain practical experience, learn from experienced colleagues and contribute to real projects as they develop their workplace skills.
For Bill, Gabriel and Harrison, their placements have provided a valuable route into employment, allowing them to put their learning into practice and demonstrate their potential to a local employer. Their experience highlights how T Levels can help students prepare for their future careers while giving businesses the opportunity to develop new talent.
Find out more about T Levels at Bury College.
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