World Youth Skills Day: T-Level Placements at Avove Utilities

How our T Level work placements are supporting the next generation of talent

This World Youth Skills Day, we wanted to showcase how we’re supporting the next generation to progress their professional development. We asked our two T-Level students, who have recently completed a work placement at Avove, to talk us through their experience.

Why did you choose Avove for your T-Level work placement?

We are Nathan and Jacob, and we are currently studying for a T-Level in Business and Administration. We chose Avove, because they offered us the opportunity to work across a variety of teams, so we could gain an understanding of which teams we would be interested in potentially working with in the future. We found the experience very valuable and glad that we pursued this opportunity.

What did you do during your T-Level placement?

Alongside the tasks and projects we were assigned by the teams we worked with, we were also given multiple projects for us to work on by our mentors and our college. This included weekly reports to give feedback on our weeks with each team we spent time with. We had the opportunity to sit in on many meetings and even had the opportunity to contribute our ideas, where appropriate.

Which teams did you work with?

Whilst at Avove, we have had the opportunity to work with a variety of teams, including:

  • Management Accounting
  • Accounts Payable
  • Sustainability
  • Procurement
  • Marketing

We both enjoyed being part of these teams, as they all offered a different experience, which meant each week would offer something new. Whilst working with these teams, we have completed tasks, such as presenting our ideas to our team members, helping to select charity partners, and developing skills, such as using Excel.

What have you learned during your T-Level placement?

Over the course of our placement, we have both significantly improved our ability to use Excel more effectively, enhanced our communication skills (especially during meetings), and gained some very valuable insight into what it is like to work within an office environment. All of this has helped us to understand how to manage our time and prioritise tasks, and the importance of collaboration to achieve shared goals.

What have you enjoyed during your placement?

During our T-Level placement with Avove, we’ve enjoyed the opportunities to make a meaningful contribution to the business. One of the most rewarding aspects was being able to put forward our own ideas to the sustainability team. These were then considered by the team over the course of the week, before eventually being put to a vote amongst colleagues. This process should lead to an exciting future partnership between Avove and a charity. This reflects the company’s huge commitment to make a positive impact.

We also enjoyed the chance to go out on site visits, as these experiences helped us to develop a greater understanding of Avove’s operations.

Which was your favourite team to work with?

Nathan:

“So far, my favourite team has been sustainability with Gordon and Iris. This is because we completed some fun tasks, which I really enjoyed. I have also enjoyed my time with the Finance Admin team, as I had the opportunity to develop a range of skills and the team helped to make the tasks straightforward to understand.”

Jake

“I would say the team I have enjoyed working with the most would be the sustainability team also, as I enjoyed having the chance to get involved with problem-solving with real-life environmental challenges.

Find out more about our T-Level offering

Studying T-Levels in September? If you’re looking for a work placement that offers a variety of hands-on experiences and the chance to make a real difference from your first day – then an Avove T-levels placement is the perfect opportunity for you. Explore Avove T-Levels today or email [email protected].