Work based consultancy

“Reward outweighs effort - both for students (real work experience, collaborative working and process/outcome value) and clients (cost effective, college/employer engagement and potential recruitment opportunity)”.  Dave Atfield, Faculty of Business, Enterprise and IT, Cornwall College

Case study

Work based consultancy, Cornwall College

Our Foundation Degree second year and business management third year students work in consultancy teams to a brief identified by local companies. Examples include market research, stock control and employee welfare initiatives. Companies to date include Gwel an Mor Holiday Park, Armada Marine Hydraulics, Falmouth; Sharp's Brewery, Rock and Quest Environmental Solutions and Victoria.

"The suggestions and recommendations are particularly interesting and welcomed...We would like to congratulate all the students who took part in the project...for a job well done."   Mid Cornwall Credit Union Ltd.

Tips

  • Exploit existing college / employer links
  • Visit your target companies and sell the benefits
  • Ensure detailed, agreed client brief
  • Manage student team composition
  • Monitor progress throughout
  • Thank the employer on completion

Pitfalls

  • Unrealistic expectations from employers of what students can achieve
  • Team fragmentation
  • Inadequate supervision
"The quality of the report and its findings are beneficial to the (Fire) Brigade. I have just sent a copy off to the Department of Communities and local Government as an independent report to assist their evaluation of the Scheme."  Cornwall County Fire Brigade.

Resources

  • Financial: Minimal; stamped addressed envelopes for survey responses etc.
  • Time: Can be significant, including initially identifying possible companies; following up company visits; student supervision and tutorials; formative and summative feedback and assessments.
"It seems a good time in our development for a review of strategy and direction, and an interesting project for a student with an interest in ME's."    Quest Environmental Solutions Ltd.

Logo: Higher Education Learning Partnerships (HELP CETL)

More in the employer engagement guide...

Find employers

Know the job market

Realise your goals

Understand employers

Other case studies

Why engage?

 

More in this sectionÂ…

Work based consultancy
  1. Employer based student…
  2. Employer mentoring
  3. Graduate placements
  4. Higher education in th…
  5. Industrial visits
  6. Mock interviews
  7. Student led events
  8. Student placements
  9. Work based consultancy
  10. Work based learning

Resources and useful links

 
 
 

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