Placement of the Year Awards 2013

Global Life Sciences company Life Technologies together with University of the West of Scotland placement student Jacqueline Craig have been honoured with an ‘e-Placement of the Year 2013’ award, after supporting a pioneering student placement scheme.

Launched in December 2010, e-Placement Scotland aims to boost the number of paid work experience opportunities available across Scotland for students with computing skills.

David Wall of Life Technologies said: “The e-Placement Scotland students come on board with great enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and a great desire to succeed.  In the past few years we have taken students on at the end of the programme into permanent roles within the organisation.  I would encourage other organisations to use the e-Placement Scotland scheme and reap some of the benefits Life Technologies has seen from the programme.’

Jacqueline is very enthusiastic about the placement: “Throughout my time at Life Technologies I have always felt very welcome from day one and it was very easy for me to settle in.  I have always been given the help and support that I have needed and I have been encouraged to do well on my own.’

Travel comparison company SkyScanner with their placement student Darren Stewart from Edinburgh Napier University were awarded second place.  Andrew Phillips of SkyScanner said:  ‘Darren has brought a different skillset to the team which we previously didn’t have, a fresh pair of eyes to look at issues we may not have spotted in the past.  It has been really beneficial and it has been great working with the team at e-Placement Scotland.’ 

McLaren Software with student Iwona Rajca, also from University of the West of Scotland, were awarded third place. Iwona undertook a placement as a Software Product Business Analyst with McLaren, and commented  ‘Placements in general are great because you can then assess your skills so you know what you’re good at and what you need to work on.  e-Placement Scotland were particularly friendly throughout the whole process and very helpful.’ 

e-Placement Scotland co-ordinator, Leigh-Ann Donoghue thanked all the companies who entered the awards and congratulations to all of the winners. 

Source:  ScotlandIS