For furbd, welcoming Middlesbrough College T Level students has become far more than an opportunity to support young people – it’s helped the charity grow its capacity and expand its impact across the Tees Valley.
Four years on from welcoming its first work experience student, T Level students now play an important part of furbd’s day-to-day operations, highlighting the real value industry placements can bring to employers.
To date, the charity has hosted 24 T Level learners – and Chief Officer David Thomas says they have no plans to stop there.
“Our T Level students are invaluable – they’ve accelerated our impact. If we had a bigger workshop, we’d happily take even more.
“Once trained, they become a real part of the team and play an important part of in what we do. They’ve significantly increased our capacity, allowing us to refurbish more devices and help more people.
“At the same time, we’re able to give students meaningful work experience and the opportunity to develop skills that help them get on the career ladder. It’s a partnership that benefits everyone.”
Founded in 2021, furbd works with businesses and organisations across the region to collect, refurbish and redistribute donated technology, giving devices a second life and opening doors to education, employment and connection for people experiencing digital exclusion across the Tees Valley.
Middlesbrough College has supported furbd since its early development, sitting on the charity’s advisory board and helping to identify opportunities for students to gain industry experience.
The Benefits of Industry Placements
Rather than observing from the sidelines, T Level students are embedded in furbd’s day-to-day operations, carrying out meaningful work that directly contributes to the charity’s mission.
Becky Thomas, Creative Inclusion Strategist at furbd, shared:
“The students aren’t just here to shadow somebody for a few weeks. They carry out work that directly contributes to what we do as a charity and the social and environmental impact we’re trying to achieve.
“Every device they refurbish has the potential to help someone access education, employment or essential services, so they should be really proud of what they’re contributing to.”
Alongside technical skills, furbd places a strong emphasis on creating an inclusive workplace where students feel comfortable asking questions, developing their confidence and being themselves.
“We have lots of neurodivergent staff and volunteers, so creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable is really important to us,” Becky explained.
“There are no egos here. We want people to thrive, and our T Level students fit into the team incredibly well.”
Giving Students Skills That Last
That supportive culture has made a lasting impression on Digital Support T Level student Reece Ingham, who admitted that he was initially nervous about starting his placement.
“I was worried about going somewhere new, but I absolutely love it here.
“The team take the time to show you everything and it feels really natural to be here. I don’t feel like I have to pretend to be someone else – I can just be myself.
“I’ve learned so much, from repairing computers to working with different people, and it’s helped me realise what I want to specialise in in my future career.”
For fellow Digital Support student Connor Jeffries, the placement was such a positive experience that he returned to furbd as a volunteer after completing his T Level placement.
“I loved it that much that I came back.
“Everything I’m learning here links directly to what I’m studying, especially cyber security and networking. It’s helped me put classroom learning into practice.”
Connor has since secured four university offers to study Applied Computing and credits his placement with helping shape his future career ambitions.
Why furbd recommends T Level placements
For furbd, its partnership with Middlesbrough College demonstrates the value that T Level students can bring to an organisation – and David encourages more organisations to consider hosting T Level students.
“Our T Level students have been enthusiastic, capable and keen to learn.
“I’d definitely recommend other organisations host T Level students. It’s a fantastic opportunity to help develop future talent while also bringing motivated young people into your organisation.
“They gain real industry experience, while we benefit from the skills, fresh ideas and additional capacity they bring.”
For employers considering T Level placements, furbd’s experience shows that investing in future talent can deliver immediate benefits.
By embedding students into their organisation and trusting them with meaningful responsibility, furbd has increased its capacity, strengthened its services and amplified its impact across the Tees Valley, all while helping young people develop the skills and confidence to take the next step in their careers.