STUDENTS are looking forward to learning about businesses, leadership and careers when they take up their Dream Placements next month.

The Centre for Leadership Performance runs the competitive programme which allows 16 to 18-year olds from across Cumbria to apply for placements in the county’s top businesses and organisations.

The candidates go through a thorough selection process and the chosen students are invited to join the businesses for a week in the February half term break to complete unique projects and work with industry leaders.

Five Barrow Sixth Form College students have achieved a places on this year’s Dream Placement scheme.

Michael Chapman heads to NSG Environmental, while Rebecca Graves will be with Liberata. Megan Macdonald is joining Abbey House, Ellis Marr will be with Atkins Global and Chloe Wagstaff will be based with CN Group.

Sam Roberts, careers advisor at Barrow Sixth Form, has supported the students through the process. He said: “The Dream Placement scheme is to find the brightest business talent of the future and is an extremely competitive process with hundreds of students applying and succeeding at a rigorous assessment day.

"We are delighted that five students from Barrow Sixth Form have been selected and will be working with senior leaders to learn in-depth about the business and meet people who could be really important to their future. This will complement the academic work they are doing and stand them in good stead whether they apply for university or take up higher apprenticeships.”