Tailored work experience gives students a real insight into development

At Socius, we believe the best work experience placements are those that reflect each student's interests and ambitions. This summer, we've welcomed several students to the business, creating tailored programmes that gave them meaningful projects, introduced them to our wider network and offered a genuine insight into the world of work.

Rather than following a one-size-fits-all schedule, each placement was designed around the student's career interests. Whether that meant spending time with our development, communications or sustainability teams, visiting projects, or meeting industry partners, our aim was to help them understand the breadth of careers involved in creating great places.

Two students, Amy and Yode, recently shared reflections on their time with us.

Amy, who has a keen interest in geography and sustainability, spent the week learning about the development process from site identification through to delivery. Visits to the London Cancer Hub and other projects helped bring her studies to life, while research into the sustainability credentials of Botanic Place gave her an appreciation of how environmental thinking is embedded from the earliest stages of development. She reflected that her biggest takeaway was that development is "far more than constructing buildings" and depends on collaboration between a wide range of disciplines to create places that make a lasting difference.

For Yode, whose interests lie in communications and public affairs, the placement focused on strategic communications, placemaking and stakeholder engagement. Alongside colleagues at Meeting Place, he supported research for a regeneration project and reviewed community consultation feedback, before working with Populate on communications, website and social media projects. He also visited the London Cancer Hub, attended a lunch-and-learn with one of its occupiers and met Andrew Scorgie, Managing Director at FTI Consulting Strategic Communications, to learn more about the role communications plays in shaping major developments.

Reflecting on the experience, Yode said it showed him that "strategic communication goes far beyond writing – every message must have a clear purpose, audience and intended impact."

We're grateful to everyone across our wider network who gave their time to support these summer placements. By sharing their knowledge and offering students real responsibility, they're helping inspire the next generation of professionals and demonstrating the many different career paths that contribute to successful regeneration and placemaking.