Museum gives student an insight into the tourism industry

Moira Furnace Museum and Country Park has been the latest employer to get on board with industry placements, giving a Burton and South Derbyshire College (BSDC) Travel and Tourism student the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the tourism industry.

Gioria Constantin, who studies Level 3 Travel and Tourism at BSDC has been working at the museum for three blocks of three weeks to gain the industry experience that will give him a head-start in his future career. During the placement, Gioria has undertaken a range of duties, including helping to produce an informative pull-up banner for the museum and creating a trail activity for children to follow.

Gioria commented: “My industry placement at Moira Furnace Museum has been great. I have really enjoyed it as it’s something different and helps you gain more practical experience. My favourite thing has been engaging with people and developing my confidence and customer service skills. I now feel more independent and I’m very proud of myself. I want to be a branch manager in an airport in the future and this industry placement will help me achieve this.”

Industry placements give students on Level 3 technical education courses the chance to put their knowledge and technical skills into practice in the workplace. This involves a 45-60 day placement in a relevant role with an employer where students can gain the skills they need in their future careers. Meanwhile, employers are able to nurture the next generation of workers while benefitting from an extra member of staff with fresh ideas.

Gioria’s mentor during the placement has been Operations Supervisor, Tom Phillips, who has been delighted with the outcome of the placement. Tom said: “We were excited to take on a student on an industry placement; we see it as a way to invest in the future. It’s very important for young people to experience the world of work. It helps young adults to get a feel for the industry they’re training up for. 

“Industry placements are a good thing and hopefully we can build on this and put a programme of work in place for future students. I would encourage other employers to get involved. It can be challenging; it will take some time out of your day making sure they have things to do, but if you’re willing to embrace it and get them involved in everything you do, it can be very rewarding to see them grow and gain experience in the industry.” 

Any employers interested in offering a Level 3 student an industry placement can find out more by calling Burton and South Derbyshire College on 01283 494568/01283 494805 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..