Frontrunners
Frontrunners is the university’s own work placement scheme, helping you to develop your skills, knowledge, and experience in a supportive, familiar environment. We offer a range paid placements across the university, so, whatever your interests and career aspirations, make sure you get involved.
This unique placement scheme allows you to:
- Gain valuable experience that will develop your skills and knowledge and enhance your C.V.
- Gain insight to working within a university environment.
- Combine work experience with your studies.
- Receive support from a professional mentor.
- Contribute units towards The Big Essex Award.
Placements will be advertised on Career Hub from 1 December 2021. The closing date for applications is 4 January 2022.
Vacancies
Vacancies will be posted on Career Hub on 1 December 2021.
How to apply
Applications for placements are made online through Career Hub. Application forms will be made available when placements are advertised on 1 December 2021.
Eligibility
Frontrunners is specifically for those with limited or no previous work experience. The scheme offers you the opportunity to be challenged, to question, and to reflect on your own skills development in a supported, structured environment.
If you have previously completed a Frontrunners placement or have gained other work experience, Frontrunners Plus offers you the opportunity to develop your knowledge by completing a placement involving more advanced tasks or with increased responsibilities.
Placements are open to registered students at all levels of study at the University of Essex. You must have a right to work in the U.K. to be able to participate. Full details on eligibility are available in the terms and conditions below.
Application and interview help
We understand that applying for work and the possibility of an interview may feel like a daunting prospect. However, we are here to help you with your application and support you with preparation for your interview if you are offered one.
We will be running application support sessions in December and providing support for those invited to interview in January. If you are thinking of applying, make sure you book your place for one of our sessions on Career Hub.
Frontrunners applicants
| Date | Time | Booking link |
| Tuesday 7 December |
2pm | Book this session |
| Wednesday 15 December | 11am | Book this session |
Frontrunners Plus applicants
| Date | Time | Booking link |
| Wednesday 8 December | 10am | Book this session |
| Thursday 16 December | 2pm | Book this session |
Information sessions
Want to know more about Frontrunners? Join us at one of the following information sessions in the lead up to the application period:
| Date | Time | Booking |
| Wednesday 17 November | 12pm | Join this session |
| Friday 19 November | 11am | Join this session |
| Monday 22 November | 4pm | Join this session |
| Thursday 25 November | 2pm | Join this session |
| Friday 26 November | 1pm | Join this session |
|
Monday 29 November |
11am | Join this session |
Terms and conditions
Before you apply, it is important that you familiarise yourself with the terms and conditions below. As an educational work placement scheme, it is important to understand that there is an expectation that, if you take on a role, you will demonstrate commitment and a desire to develop within it.
Your pay
Placements will run for up to a maximum 150 hours over a period of 10-15 weeks depending on requirement. You will be paid an hourly wage for your time as follows:
- Frontrunners £9.24 per hour
- Frontrunner Plus £9.50 per hour
You will be paid monthly in arrears into your UK bank account, according to how many hours you've spent on placement in the previous month.
