Blackpool based marketing and creative agency, Happy Creative has partnered with Blackpool and the Fylde College to deliver the first in a new industry placement project.

As part of the newly proposed T-levels commissioned by the Department of Education, Happy Creative has welcomed Business Studies student Rachel Healy to their team.

Karen Lambert. Chief Happy at Happy Creative, said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Rachel too Happy and to be championing such an important initiative. Throughout our 13-year history, we have supported young people, giving them the opportunity to translate what they are learning in school and college to the real world. Having Rachel with us for 3 months will mean that she gets a real in-depth insight into how a business operates as well as valuable hands-on experience which will prepare her for her career.”

Rachel Healy will be working with The Happies to learn valuable industry based skills and to gain experience with on the job training and development. She’ll be learning about the practice of marketing, account management, social media management and content creation. As well as how PR is conducted and how it can benefit a business.

Rachel Healy, student said; “Having the opportunity to contextualise the theory I am learning in the classroom into the workplace, for a substantial amount of time, is helping me develop my skills set further and has boost my confidence. Through this experience I am able to make valued decisions on my future, from choosing a career path to which university I want to attend”.

The initiative aims to design and pilot a new model of student placement that the government plans to roll out nationally. It’s currently being piloted by Blackpool and the Fylde College who are the first College to be piloting the project, and have partnered with Happy Creative who is one of the first Blackpool businesses to take part in the scheme too.

Nigel Brown, Director for Students at Blackpool and the Fylde College, commented: “We are delighted to work with Happy Creative on the new T-levels pilot this year as they welcome our students as part of an industry placement project commissioned by the Department for Education.

“The two-year T-level courses have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that they meet the needs of industry and prepare students for work”.

T-levels will follow GCSEs and be equivalent to three A-levels. They will combine classroom theory, practical learning and a three-month industry placement to provide students with a real experience of the workplace. They will provide the knowledge and experience needed to open the door into skilled employment, further study or a higher apprenticeship.

The new model will become a mandatory requirement for all technical and professional education students in the future.