Finding industry placements: looking at functions, not just sectors - A practical guide for digital and other business-related T Levels

Digital placements don’t need to be limited to technology companies. Almost every organisation now relies on digital skills - from NHS trusts and councils, to retailers, charities and small businesses. This means there are far more opportunities than you might think.

Where to look

When searching for placements, think beyond dedicated IT firms:
• In-house IT teams – most medium and large organisations have them.
• Marketing and communications – social media, website management and content creation all need digital skills.
• Data and business analysis – employers in sectors such as health, finance, logistics or retail increasingly use data-driven decision making.
• Cybersecurity and systems support – opportunities exist in many sectors with a strong focus on data security.

How to start conversations with employers

When speaking to potential hosts, focus on the practical contribution students can make. For example:

• Supporting website updates, social media or e-commerce.
• Analysing datasets or producing reports.
• Assisting with user testing or customer feedback surveys.
• Helping staff with day-to-day IT support

Prompts to ask employers might include:

• What digital tasks take time but would be great development opportunities for a student?
• Could a student support you on a short project, such as analysing data or creating digital content?
• Would remote or hybrid working make a placement more feasible.

Overcoming common challenges

Employers sometimes worry about capacity, supervision or data security. You can reassure them by:

• Keeping it small at first – suggest a short project or a part-remote role.
• Highlighting student readiness – explain the skills and knowledge students will bring.
• Offering flexibility – placements don’t need to be one long block; they can be day release, smaller blocks, or shared across employers.

Placements also benefit employers by providing fresh ideas, supporting project delivery, and helping to build a pipeline of future talent.

For more information on handling objections see Confidently handle employer objections

A transferable approach

This way of thinking doesn’t just apply to digital. The same principle - looking beyond obvious ‘sector-only’ employers and into functional teams within organisations – for example it is also true for:

• Legal, finance and accounting - placements could be hosted within the finance or legal departments of larger organisations, not only law or accountancy firms.
• Management and administration - students can gain valuable experience in HR, project management or operations teams across many sectors.

Key takeaway

Think function, not just sector. Most organisations have digital, finance, admin or legal functions and that opens up a much wider pool of employers who can host industry placements.