EAST NORFOLK ‘T’ LEVEL STUDENTS IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN BUSINESS DURING FOUR WEEK PLACEMENTS

Two East Norfolk Sixth Form College ‘T’ levels students are putting their learning to practical use as they undertake the first of two four week placements at chartered accountants Lovewell Blake.

The students will be immersing themselves in the sharp end of accountancy at the firm’s Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft offices. 

Lovewell Blake, which is the only East Anglian-based employer to feature in the Top 20 of the government’s official ‘Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers’ List for 2022, is offering the two placements to students on East Norfolk Sixth Form College’s ‘T’ level accountancy course.

‘T’ Levels were introduced in 2020, and are equivalent to three ‘A’ levels, but focus on vocational skills.  Students must spend 45 days in industry placements across their two year course.

East Norfolk Sixth Form College employer engagement co-ordinator Lucy Vincent said, “The employer placements are an integral part of the new ‘T’ levels.  The opportunity to spend time in industry is so important for our students’ future careers, and it helps them put what they have learnt in the classroom into context.”

Aiden Lambert, from Great Yarmouth, is spending his placement at Lovewell Blake’s office at North Quay in the town.  He said, “I am looking forward to putting what I have learnt into practice.  Spending time in a real accountancy firm will also help me learn how to act in a workplace, working with other people, and to experience the business environment.”

Saffron Hinson, from Lowestoft, is spending her placement at Lovewell Blake’s office on the town’s Quay View Business Park.  She said, “Already I have been struck by the inviting and friendly environment; my perception of accountancy offices were that they were very quiet and ‘heads-down’, but nothing could be further from the truth.  It’s a real privilege to spend time in one of the region’s leading firms.”

Vicky Webber, HR manager at Lovewell Blake, said, “Offering placements for students is so important, because working in a real office environment is very different from learning the theory in a classroom.

“Lovewell Blake has excellent relationships with all of our local educational establishments, and we take the task of developing future talent in our profession very seriously.”