As the British economy looks for new ways to develop and grow, there has never been a greater demand for opportunities for students and new starters to learn more about industries, roles, and the systems they engage with. Industrial placements and graduate roles fulfil this need and help address the widening skills gap forming in the UK.
We’re excited to be part of this change with our offer of a Technical Industrial Placement role at Europlaz as well as a Sustainability Officer role for graduates, providing a unique opportunity for new starters to learn about the exacting and exciting world of medical device development.
Join us as we look at what this type of placement looks like, investigate the benefits for employers and employees, and predict what changes placements can bring to healthcare, life sciences, engineering and more.
What is an industry placement?
Industry Placements are an important part of developing the next generation of innovators, providing students with key insights into the work, skills, and projects in the medical device and life science industries.
These placements are usually carried out over an extended period (usually a year) and are undertaken by university students looking to supplement their degree with professional development.
Supported by the Department of Education, industry placements;
“Give students an opportunity to develop their practical and technical skills in a role directly relevant to their vocational course. They also give employers the chance to ensure that young people are developing the skills and experience that industry needs.”
These roles aimed at university students approaching the end of their degrees do not replace formal education but form part of the overall learning experience to provide real-world experience before leaving tertiary education.
Why are industry placements so important?
There are a range of benefits that affect businesses and individuals. Placements allow businesses to form connections with universities and other educational institutions and streamline the change from education to work.
For students, the benefits are obvious as they can:
- Gain practical experience
- Build industry contacts
- Improve chances of landing a role after studying
- Ensure the role you have in mind works for you
For employers, it can also offer a range of benefits, primarily through providing access to a new workforce with fresh ideas to bring to the table. Additionally, these roles can:
- Develop existing staff’s mentoring and management skills
- Improve recruitment for years to come
- Allow for diversification with opportunities for people from a variety of backgrounds
- Build relationships with local training institutions
As you can see there are several benefits from placements. But why is this to important to us?
How Europlaz is supporting industry placements in life sciences and medtech
For us, working for the future is a necessity and we pride ourselves on our responsibility to work in a way that benefits society in the long term. To this end, we are committed to providing roles such as our industrial placement to help address concerns around skills gaps in the UK and provide more pathways for individuals and businesses to overcome recruitment shortages.
The Oxford Learning College estimates that ‘20% of the workforce in the UK will be significantly underkilled for their jobs by 2030. This could amount to around 6.5 million people.’
This is a serious concern and one we hope to address with support in the form of employment and education.
To further combat this gap we are always looking for graduate opportunities to help new starters make a mark. To this end, we are working towards more sustainable business practices and are actively seeking motivated individuals for our graduate sustainability officer role. This opportunity is ideal for qualified individuals to make a difference in a company’s ESG performance and work on projects with prestigious healthcare companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic.
Take the first step with Europlaz
As one of the UK’s leading medical device contract manufacturers, we are dedicated to advancing the medical field in drug delivery systems, diagnostic equipment, medical technology, and life sciences.
Our experienced team are personable and supportive, often working in collaboration with clients to drive the future of medical device innovations to develop new products and technologies which are ultimately changing people’s lives.
We work with some of the world’s most prestigious healthcare companies to help overcome medical challenges, such as creating a pioneering device that is changing the way neonates are cared for. If you’re interested in applying for our industrial placement take a look at the job description here.
Full details about our Graduate Sustainability Officer vacancy can be found here.
Alternatively, if you’re a business that would like to work together to develop and manufacture medical devices, medical parts, or systems for life science research contact our team today.
