Work Placements

All of the programmes at RNC encourage work placements, usually within your home area or the area you hope to work in after leaving college. You may also have the opportunity to work within one of the College’s busy internal teams.

Adult Training Unit (ATU)

All adults studying at RNC will have links to our Adult Training Unit (ATU), a team of people who will provide you with the necessary support and information you need to get into employment.

If you require a specific, vocational qualification in order to gain employment you will be based within your chosen area, i.e. Massage, Sport and Recreation, Music and Media, and have active links to the ATU. For other trainees, who wish to more generally increase their skills and employability through the development of office based skills and qualifications in other areas, there will be various work experience opportunities.

Either way, you will be offered employment support to complement your chosen vocational specialism.

Job Shop

All adult students have weekly, timetabled sessions within the Job Shop. These sessions are an opportunity to focus on the skills and techniques necessary for effective job-hunting and offer structured time where you will have the opportunity to develop a portfolio of evidence to gain a nationally recognised qualification in Work Skills (through Edexcel). This qualification allows you to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence required to start work within your chosen field and demonstrates to employers that you are a committed, ‘work ready’ individual.

Our experienced staff have created links with a wealth of trained professionals who act as guest speakers and will attend these sessions to offer further support and guidance on such topics as self-employment, benefits, time management and setting up your own website.

Transitional Employment Posts (TEPs)

TEPs are part-time, 16 hour a week contracts over a six month period, during which time trainees gain valuable experience, confidence and skills, with the aim of finding permanent employment when the TEP contract ends. After running the initiative very successfully internally for a number of years, the scheme can now be used by organisations across the UK, with RNC’s support.

Case Study

Charlene Gomes – Marketing Assistant - Transitional Employment Post (TEP)

 “Being born with a visual impairment which affects the retinas of both my eyes, my education was not easy but I persevered to achieve eight GCSE passes. Since then my sight has deteriorated so that now I use Braille and a computer with JAWS the assistive technology speech programme.

The years I lost looking for work affected my confidence such that I was beginning to feel useless. I enjoy success and so started planning ahead.

I initially came to RNC for a vocational qualification but after voluntary work and working in a resource centre I felt I needed experience in office work so that I can run my own business. I have now successfully completed “Skills for the Working Office” and a “City and Guilds Level 1” in ICT and have recently secured a TEP post as a Marketing Assistant, helping to support a busy marketing team. I’ve never been happier.

My advice to anyone looking to study at RNC would be to go for it, use your visual impairment as an advantage not a disadvantage. Believe in yourself, but accept help when it is offered. RNC has given me the opportunity to do things I never thought possible, and having a job where I can use and develop my skills is really helping me to believe in my future.”

William Black, now employed with St Dunstans

 “I have an Army background, but before coming to RNC I was not doing anything. I have now trained as a Fitness Instructor and have loved every minute of it. The College has opened up a new future for me. I have learnt IT skills, along with numeracy and literacy. The College has given me a future to look forward to.”