Automotive Industrial Placement wanted

[Elwood]

Can anybody help my son who is a second year student at Sunderland University
studying an Automotive Design and Technology Degree? As part of his course he
needs to find an Industrial Placement within the Industry for his third year.
As you can imagine, with the economic climate as it is, it is proving very difficult!
He would ideally like to get a placement with a small, independant company, but anything
would be great. He is a keen, enthusiastic, hard worker and would travel anywhere in UK. If you have ideas or advise regarding the best type of companies to apply to let me know. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks in advance.

[Frik]

YHM

[Elwood]

Thanks for that we will give it a try, anyone else?

[AJS-]

I think it's simply a matter of phoning everyone. Do phone as emails are too easily ignored.

Try and get through to the people working in his area of interest rather than HR as it cuts out a lot of bureaucracy and fussing about, and because they can almost certainly be a mine of useful information, contacts and experience. They've probably done the same themselves at some point.

Ask if they take students on industrial placements, and if not or if they can't, ask what they would suggest or who they should contact. People are usually quite helpful, especially if he's obviously keen and motivated.

It might also be worth broadening the search a bit. As well we know the UK car industry ain't what it was, a year in Turin, Munich or even Lille could be a great experience professionally and personally as well. If it's something he would want to do then it's worth a look.