Work experience

Izzy worked at the Hereford and Worcester Earth Heritage Trust (EHT) as part of a work placement and collaborated with Mark Baggott from the Trust to develop a new accessibility feature that would allow students to explore the boxes independently.

The Earth Heritage Trust produces fossil boxes for schools, filled with real fossils found in the UK. The boxes include information on the fossils’ types, how old they are and where they were found, as well as resources for learning about fossils and collecting them safely.

Emilio worked on placement at thePoint4 as Trainee Recreation Attendant. This involved working as part of a team to ensure the smooth operation of the facility, setting up equipment for events and activities in line with health and safety regulations, maintaining high standards of hygiene and cleanliness, assisting customers with enquiries in a friendly and effective manner, and ensuring that equipment was maintained, stored safely and any defects reported appropriately.

Working on reception has helped Oli to understand how a front-facing role operates on a day-to-day basis. As Julie, the receptionist supporting him, explained:

Reception can be busy and unpredictable, often coming in waves, and it is about learning how to manage different demands while continuing to provide a good service.

This experience helped Oli to build key employability skills such as communication, organisation and the ability to stay calm under pressure.

As part of Davide’s placement, he wrote a blog reflecting on his journey so far, from studying music in Italy to developing his production skills in the UK using accessible audio software. It is a thoughtful insight into how accessibility, practical learning and the right opportunities can help build confidence and independence.