Launched in 2021, the Brian McKenna Student Placement Programme is a £19K a year work placement scheme which includes the chance to compete for final year’s tuition fee.
This year 5 successful students spent their placement year between August 2022 – July 2023 working in one of a range of areas, including: Finance, HR, ICT and Assets. During their time with Choice they received support from a dedicated line manager who guided them as they developed skills aimed at preparing them for employment, through practical learning and real time problem solving.
Over the course of the year students also worked on their own business innovation project, with the ultimate prize of their last year’s tuition fee paid. As part of this process, students presented their project to Choice’s Senior Management Team. Owen McGuinness was the successful student in this competition, Owen is studying Computer Science at Ulster University.
Owen began his placement year in August 2022 and has enjoyed the experience, in particular the continuous guidance and support from her colleagues.
Owen said, “I found my time at Choice very encouraging and all the workers in the IT Department were helpful and informative. My business innovation project was a fully automated Chatbot for the Tenant & Client Services Department. My idea was guided by a lot of the work that my colleagues in the IT Department have completed this year so I couldn’t have done it without their help.”
Brian McKenna, who passed away in February 2019, was a member of the Choice team for more than twenty years and, during his time with the organisation made a huge contribution to the lives of tenants, colleagues, and the communities he worked in. As a board member of the Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC), Brian was committed to working to improve the lives and opportunities for young people both professionally and personally.
Lawrence Jackson, Group Director of Corporate Services, “Owen is highly deserving of this award, he has worked hard and contributed greatly to his team in our IT department. The senior team have been impressed by all of our students this year, and we recognise the hard work and commitment they have brought to their roles. We wish them all the best for their continued studies.”
