Rewarding and formative: Tom's T Level placement experience
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Digital Support Services T Level
Tom Ashforth is a T Level Digital Support Services student from Barnsley College, and is also Disabilities Officer on the Students' Union Committee.
Here, Tom shares with us his experience of completing a work placement at Sheffield's Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre – a world-leading centre for physical activity research and innovation – to mark T Level Thursday (12th February 2026), part of National Apprenticeship Week...
I am a student at Barnsley College studying a T Level in Digital Support Services and currently serve as Senior Student Consultant for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
I have practical experience in IT support and digital systems, with a strong focus on accessibility, user-centred design, and problem-solving. Alongside my technical development, my advocacy and leadership work in SEND has strengthened my communication, organisational, and collaborative skills. I am highly motivated to apply digital technologies in real-world environments where they can make a meaningful impact.
Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC)
Over the past few months, I had the opportunity to complete a work placement at the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) at Sheffield Hallam University. This placement allowed me to combine my interests in technology, sport, and research while gaining valuable insight into how digital systems and innovation support elite performance, health, and wellbeing.
During the initial stage of my placement, I focused on understanding the structure and purpose of the AWRC. I was introduced to the team and attended a range of meetings, including PhD mentoring sessions, departmental updates, and collaborative discussions with external partners such as GB Boxing and GB Aquatics. These experiences helped me gain an appreciation of the scale, diversity, and impact of the work taking place within the centre.
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'Rewarding and formative': Tom's T Level placement experience | Barnsley College