The university of real life

Wrekin Housing Trust has been offering placements to university students since 2001. For students, the placement is an opportunity to put into practice the knowledge and experience acquired during the first two years of a sandwich course – one where a student spends some time studying theory at university and a period on placement, an increasingly popular choice at universities.

But there are advantages for the trust, too. Taking on an undergraduate allows it to inject new ideas into the business, to develop company mentors and to have an enthusiastic and able employee, as well as hopefully encouraging the students to choose the housing sector as a career.

Jane Brookes, director of housing at the trust, says: "We've been lucky to welcome some bright students, who've each brought fresh ideas and enthusiasm."

The first intern, in 2001, worked in the marketing team. But the scheme has grown over the years and there are now placements within the trust's IT, finance and communications teams.

Last year, 20 students applied for placements with the finance team and 16 for placements in the communications and marketing team.

The trust has a good link with the business school at the University of Wolverhampton, where most of its placement students study, but has also taken on students from Staffordshire University and Leeds Metropolitan University.

I’ve discovered that working in social housing is a lot more interesting than I ever thought

Amy Coombs, placement student

Not all of the undergraduates are taking degrees in housing. Some are studying business, accountancy, finance, public relations and information technology.

The students are always able to specialise in their area within the trust and have been involved in tasks ranging from repair audits to organising conferences and redesigning websites.

Without exception, the placements have changed the students' views of social housing, with some of them placing it as an area they would definitely consider working in after graduating.

Amy Coombs, a student placed in the communications and marketing team, says: "I would never have considered social housing as a career choice before my placement. I always imagined that I would love to work for a consultancy that specialised in an exciting field like the fashion industry.