News
Summer placements
The next round of placements will start on 12 June 2017 and finish on 1 September 2017.
These will be advertised and applications will be accepted from 6 March - 24 March 2017.
In March, we'll list what
placements you can apply for.
Successful applications workshop
Want to be a part of our unique on-campus placement scheme? Find out how you can make an
application that will boost your chances of securing a placement. Join the Employability and
Careers Centre for this workshop tailored specifically for frontrunner applications.
Professional work skills workshops
This workshop is specifically tailored to the scheme so you can gain the most
out of your placement through self-reflection. You'll be involved in an interactive
session which looks at how you can make the most of your experience and help you
"wow" employers at interview or assessment centre.
Frontrunners workshop: The University of Essex brand: who we are, how we say it and how we look
We're clear about who we are. Our Essex values, culture, philosophy and approach
set us apart from other institutions. This unique combination of factors forms our
identity, and is sometimes referred to as our "brand". In this workshop you’ll become
familiar with our brand and find out what makes Essex different. We’ll also tell you
all about our challenger narrative, visual identity and where to access useful resources
and guidance. Our challenger narrative is essentially our 'voice' and is integral to
how we communicate with students, staff and external organisations across the University.
It’s crucial that our brand stays consistent and that messages stay on point.
By the end of the workshop you’ll have a good idea of how to write and present your
work in a style which reflects who we are, while ensuring it's relevant to your
audience. We’ll finish the workshop with our top ten writing and editing tips and a
Q&A session for any questions you have. If you’re working on marketing or social
media in your placement this workshop is not to be missed!
Frontrunners social media workshop
Get up to scratch with what it takes to successfully manage Facebook and Twitter for
your department.
In this workshop you'll become familiar with the University's do’s and don’ts of
social media and learn how to plan content that is interesting, informative and engaging.
With tools that make social media monitoring and scheduling easy and effective, you'll be
able to communicate with and grow your following better than ever before. You'll also learn
how to use and understand Facebook and Twitter analytics tools, which will allow you to report
back to your department and measure the impact of social media during your role as a frontrunner.
We will also touch on other social media opportunities and finish the workshop with a Q&A
session for any other questions you might have.
Basic fire safety workshop
The protection of staff and students through the maintenance of high standards of fire
safety is very important to our University. Around 15 fires occur at Essex every year, most
caused by unsafe behaviour. The fire safety arrangements we have in place generally prevent
these becoming serious incidents. However, they often result in damage to students'
possessions and the University's equipment and premises. This compulsory frontrunners
course will help you to look after your own safety and that of your colleagues. You will learn
how to prevent fires, what to do if you discover a fire and how to evacuate safely when the
fire alarm sounds.
Wage increases
Those of you starting your placements in September will notice a change to
the rate of pay as of 1 October 2016. Any hours worked prior to this date will
be paid the previous pay rate depending on the level of placement.
- Frontrunners will be paid £6.95 an hour.
- Frontrunner Pluses will be paid £7.60 an hour.