Discover how Blackburn College achieved a 97% placement success rate while reducing admin and boosting student engagement, all through one seamless platform.

How did The Changing Education Group help transform Blackburn College’s work experience programme?

Blackburn College partnered with The Changing Education Group to simplify and scale their work experience delivery, all with minimal staffing and maximum impact.

Alison Thompson, Work Placement Operations Manager, shares:

“The platform has transformed the way we manage work experience. It’s streamlined, tech-friendly, and backed by brilliant support.”

Why is early career planning essential for Blackburn students?

At Blackburn College, preparing students for their future careers is a top priority.
Work placements help students:

• Explore real career options
• Build confidence and workplace readiness

“Work experience provides a vital first step on the career ladder,” says Alison. “It helps students make informed, confident choices about their future.”

What changed after implementing The Changing Education Group’s platform?

Blackburn College saw immediate gains in efficiency, engagement, and outcomes:

Streamlined Placement Management

The platform replaced manual processes with automation, saving staff time and making student-to-placement matching far simpler.

Enhanced Employer Engagement

Alison’s team is now onboard and communicates with employers more effectively, using one centralised system.

Student-Focused App Experience

Students access everything in one place, from placement info to learning contracts and feedback.
It’s intuitive, mobile-friendly, and aligned with the expectations of today’s digital-first learners.

What results has Blackburn College achieved?

97% Student Placement Rate

With 76% of learners completing physical placements, the college has seen real improvements in delivery and learner participation.

Enriched Student Experiences

The Changing Education Group’s platform also helped deliver workshops and enrichment activities, like guest sessions with motivational speaker Adam Corley, creating even more meaningful learning moments.

What do staff value most about the platform?

Alison highlights two standout qualities:

• Efficiency: “It’s streamlined everything for us.”
• Support: “The customer service is outstanding, we get quick resolutions and real guidance.”

This combination gives staff confidence and frees up time to focus on what matters: supporting students.

How has the platform improved student engagement?

Students now have a central hub for all placement-related information.
Alison explains:

“They love the app. It gives them control and visibility, and it’s built for the way they communicate and work.”

What features set The Changing Education Group apart?

Alison singles out the Programme Builder, a powerful tool that allows Blackburn College to design and deliver virtual and blended placements at scale.

“It’s been a game-changer for us. We’ve managed large volumes of students and created engaging, flexible content that works.”

What’s next for Blackburn College’s careers provision?

Looking ahead, Alison is focused on:

• Embedding T Levels successfully
• Growing industry partnerships
• Continually improving placement quality

The Changing Education Group is fully aligned with T Level delivery, providing tailored support to ensure students gain meaningful, industry-relevant placements.

Want to Transform Your Work Placement Programme?

If you’re looking to:

• Simplify administration
• Improve employer engagement
• Increase student success and satisfaction
• Seamlessly support T Level delivery

Then our Work Experience Suite is the solution trusted by colleges across the UK.

Let’s talk. Book a provision review today or get in touch via:

Email: info@changingeducationgroup.com
Website: www.changingeducationgroup.com

FAQs

1. How did The Changing Education Group support Blackburn College’s staffing capacity?
The platform reduced admin demands, enabling the team to manage high placement volumes with limited resources.

2. What made the Programme Builder so effective?
It allowed staff to create structured virtual programmes, making placements more flexible and scalable.

3. How did students respond to the technology?
Very positively, they appreciated having everything in one place, with real-time access to their placement journey.

4. What role does The Changing Education Group play in T Level support?
We offer specialist tools and expertise designed to help colleges deliver high-quality industry placements aligned with T Level frameworks.

5. Is employer communication handled through the platform?
Yes, from onboarding to feedback collection, employers can engage directly via the platform, improving responsiveness and clarity.