Student Placements & Apprenticeships

Investing In Skills For The Future

DEMAND’s objectives include encouraging design for disability. Each year we take on students for 48-week placements, at both our sites as junior-designers. The quantity and range of projects we deal with means that they participate in a number of initiatives. As their experience grows, they are given increasingly complex projects and eventually lead the design.

Students take away with them the benefits of incorporating design for disability in everything they do, which helps influence the thinking in their new design environments. Universities rate our placements highly. As a small organisation we provide a complete overview of the work we do and real projects with real responsibility, meaning it is one of the most rewarding placements on offer. As one of our students said on leaving “It’s been a life changing experience”.

We have also recently begun an Apprenticeship. In the past our skilled craftsmen have come from the dwindling manufacturing industry but as time goes by we have to consider other ways of securing skills for the future. George Fox (17) joined us in September 2010. In addition to working with us he has formal academic training at college one day a week. The course lasts 2 years.

	Carl-Eiler Rodrigues, BSc Product Design, Nottingham Trent University ‘I couldn’t have asked for more from a placement, very rarely would you find one which allows you to experience the entire design process’ In 2010 he has designed and assisted in the manufacture of a wheelchair tray and writing/reading slope for a client with muscular dystrophy.
	Freddy Fontannaz, BSc Product Design, Nottingham Trent University ‘Thoroughly enjoying my placement, everyday has a different challenge and learning experience’ In 2010 he designed a supportive seat for a children’s buggy, helped with the technical development of the new Boccia ramp and designed a foot prompt system for a client with cerebral palsy.
	George Fox, Engineering Apprenticeship, Oaklands College ‘At DEMAND I feel fortunate to be around such friendly people, whose experiences and skills are being passed down’ In 2010 he has been involved in the production of numerous protoypes and final designs, with focus on the DEMAND Boccia Ramp Range.
	Richard Sheppard, BSc Product Design Engineering, Brunel University ‘I think it’s fantastic that we can get hands-on, practical experience whilst directly help those in need’ In 2010 he manufactured a special headrest for a child and is developing a positioning system for a teenager to help him comfortably sit on a sofa.