Real organisations. Real work. Four times a year.
Spectrum placements take students out of the classroom and into companies, audit and professional firms, media houses, NGOs, public bodies and technology teams, with an Academy week first, trained mentors, and a final pitch or project that becomes evidence for CAS, portfolios and university applications.
Four cohorts every year
Exact dates are confirmed when you enrol. Places depend on the host placements available.
Spring cohort
March–April 2027Six-week Junior Executive Programme, AI and Cyber Security placements, timed around the school calendar.
Flagship summer cohort
June–July 2027Our largest intake: Junior Executive Programme (Community Immersion and Industry), AI and Cyber Security, with the full Academy week and Boardroom pitches.
Flagship cohortLate summer cohort
August–September 2027A second summer intake for students who travel in June and July.
Autumn cohort
October–November 2027An autumn intake, plus the October start for six-month Career Pathways.
Choose a placement
Junior Executive Programme: Industry
Six weeks inside real companies, with department rotations in operations, marketing, finance and people, and a Boardroom pitch.
Junior Executive Programme: Community Immersion
Six weeks with NGOs, research institutes and public bodies, ending in a community impact project.
AI Programme
An AI Academy, four weeks with teams that build and use AI, and a project pitch.
Cyber Security Programme
Security foundations and four weeks alongside real defenders. All activities are defensive.
Career Pathways (6 months)
Law, public administration, politics and policy, or your own field: 4.5 months of classes three days a week, then a 1.5-month placement with a mentor.
Why placements matter
Evidence that counts
Portfolios, certificates and mentor references for CAS, Service as Action, the Personal Project and university applications.
A clearer career choice
Seeing real work helps students choose subjects, degrees and careers with confidence.
Professional confidence
Meetings, deadlines, presentations and feedback from real professionals.
Safe and supervised
One Spectrum supervisor for every eight students, briefed mentors and a full safeguarding policy.
Enrol for a placement
Four short sections. Our Placement Coordinator replies within one working day.
Open your doors to the next generation
Hosts give students a real view of their work; Spectrum does the planning, preparation, supervision and assessment. Most hosts welcome four to eight students for four weeks, with a mentor giving one to two hours a week.
- BeforeA short call, a one-page agreement, a risk assessment and a mentor briefing from Spectrum.
- Academy weekStudents are prepared at Spectrum before they arrive: professional conduct, safety and your sector.
- On placementUsually 4 days a week for 4 weeks. One Spectrum supervisor for every 8 students. A named mentor gives 1–2 hours a week.
- Final weekStudents present their project or recommendation to your leaders. You receive a short impact report.
Sectors we place students in
- National and multinational companies
- Audit, accounting and professional services firms
- Media houses and communications
- Community and public organisations
- Technology and security teams
- Professional mentors
- Schools and education partners
Meet future talent early
Get to know motivated young people years before graduate recruitment, and show them what your profession or cause really involves.
Fresh ideas for real problems
Students finish with a practical recommendation, prototype or campaign built around a real need you set.
Safe and well run
Spectrum plans, supervises and assesses. Mentors are briefed on safeguarding and never work alone with students.
Visible impact
An impact report and recognition you can use in community, corporate social responsibility and sustainability reporting, with your approval.
Register your organisation’s interest
No commitment until a host agreement is signed.