When Worcester-based recruiters Straight-Line Group took advantage of the University of Worcester’s Springboard programme, they were looking to strengthen their marketing. They found someone who could make an immediate impact.
The Springboard programme lets employers tap into a pool of talent and connect with a student whose goals, skills and values are aligned with their own.
Students bring enthusiasm, fresh ideas, up-to-date knowledge and research capabilities, and can provide a cost-effective solution to short-term recruitment needs.
They can also take on one-off projects that other staff may not have time to carry out.
“We were looking to bring someone into the business,” said Daniel Sekhon from Worcester-based recruiters Straight-Line Group. “The University came back to us within a week, and they’d found us the right person.”
“They didn’t just send us students,” he said. “They really matched us with someone who fits exactly what we needed.”
“It isn’t just marketing for the sake of it. The work Beth has been doing has actually brought business into the company so it’s win-win. We’ve gained fresh ideas, new energy, and we’ve seen real results from it already.”
Beth, who has just finished her final year of her Digital Marketing degree at the University of Worcester, said working with Daniel is what led to her earning a first-class degree.
“I’ve been doing everything,” she said. “From social media to email marketing, website optimisation and more. Being here has really let me apply my knowledge from university into a real-world context and I’ve been able to look back at the outcomes of it all. It has really helped me grow.”
Unlike some work experience providers, the Springboard programme is designed to pair the right student with the right placement; taking into account what the business needs and can offer and finding the students whose existing skills and ambitions align.
The results are profound for both the student and the employer.
“As soon as we met Beth, we knew she was exactly what we needed,” said Daniel. “She came in full of energy with big ideas. In our industry, things can be quite traditional, but bringing someone like Beth in has really helped us stand out.”
Rather than simply observing, Daniel and his team gave Beth the chance to make a real contribution to the business from the outset.
Beth said: “From day one I was given responsibility. I wasn’t just watching, I was doing the role.”
The hands-on experience helped Beth build her technical skills, gave her confidence in her own abilities, and gave her the space to showcase what she can bring to the company.
“A lot of businesses see marketing as a cost,” said Daniel. “But having Beth with us has really shown us it can actually generate business when it’s done well. What Beth has done hasn’t just supported us, it has added real value to the business.”
For many business leaders, bringing in placement students or interns goes far deeper than just getting someone in to work, or even to learn. It’s about passing on their own knowledge and being able to nurture their sector’s next generation.
Daniel said: “It’s about helping people realise what they can do, not just what they think they should do. I’ve been pushing Beth to think bigger, to think about going self-employed and building something for herself.”
Beth said being a part of Straight-Line Group had changed how she sees her future ambitions.
“The placement made me look at my career differently,” she said. “I’m now thinking about freelance, agency work, or working with multiple clients now, because I’ve learned skills like networking. That was scary at first, but I’ so much more confident in putting myself out there.”
Daniel added: “Sometimes people just need that push, and that belief behind them. As long as we’re getting value and they’re developing at the same time, it’s brilliant to be supporting someone.”
Janey Robins, Placements and Internships Coordinator at the University of Worcester, said: “We’re always proud to see the impact of the Springboard programme, both for our students and the businesses they work with.”
“It’s designed to match the needs of each business with the ambitions and skills of our students,” she said. “Seeing a company generate new business as a result, while one of our students builds an impressive portfolio, really shows the difference the University is making across the region.”
Daniel added: “There’s real talent at the University of Worcester’s Business School. Businesses in the area who aren’t already doing so just need to tap into it; I think more companies should be working with their local universities. Beth has shown us just how valuable that can be.”
Learn more about The Springboard programme.