Highfields Centre provides valuable workplace experience for T Level students

Highfields Centre first opened in 1974 as an inner-city community centre and is located in the heart of a vibrant and diverse community in Leicester.

Its aim is to provide, develop and manage a family-oriented community education and development centre, with a particular emphasis as a community anchor and advocacy organisation for the Highfields area and wider communities.

‘Empowered through education’

“We are empowered through education,” says Fatimah Li, Deputy Head of Centre (Community & Children and Young People Services) at Highfield Centre. “We engage with people from the local area across areas including employment, training, education and language skills.

“We aim to encourage children and young people as an alternative education provider,

keeping in line with current curriculums.”

Students experience workplace environment

When T Levels were introduced in September 2020, Highfields Centre was keen to get involved. Representatives went to the Leicester College AGM and engaged with senior management there. The Centre had a small scale adult provision already and really wanted to support students, providing them with practical insights into how businesses are shaped and developed.

Fatimah continues: “We are able to offer 300 placement hours within a workplace setting in our youth and community hub. Last year, we supported three T Level students from Leicester College and this year, we’re supporting an additional four students.

“The students get to understand what a workplace environment looks like, navigate their way through the work system, become aware of procedures and how to behave with the general public – things that they won’t necessarily get taught in the classroom.

“We have a lot of community projects so the Leicester College students can get (and have been) involved in a range of functions such as front-facing administration, customer service,

programme planning, income generation and engaging with service users.

“Some have completed arts awards for further accreditations; one particular student got involved with supporting technology and telecoms, incorporating more hands on activity.

Facilitating meaningful change

“We believe that the T Level placement draws out and helps to shape the student’s personality, giving them the opportunity to present and learn work skills,” adds Fatimah. “Initially, the students were nervous as they were not used to a work setting, but this gives them real-life exposure.

“We see a meaningful change in the students while they’re with us. They feel valued, part of a team and this makes a huge difference to the individual. This people-led approach also drives the values of the Highfields Centre.

"The students have done excellently during their time with us. Some students have developed youth work qualifications, others have gone on to university or gone on to show an interest in teaching.”

The value of business/college collaboration

“It’s really important that the private sector and other community organisations provide opportunities to experience how the world of work actually works.

“We can foster that approach by ensuring that businesses and colleges are not working separately. Students are a vital part of our economy and that’s why we’re collaborating with Leicester College to empower young people for the future,” concludes Fatimah.