This year, HATS hosted several student work placements across Islington, Croydon, and Birmingham, providing valuable hands-on experience in various departments.

Islington: Three students joined us for five-day placements, working six hours per day (total 90 hours). One student focused on IT, gaining experience in PC resets, networking, mobile device management, and IT support processes. The other two students rotated between CSR and Fleet, gaining exposure to different operational areas.

Croydon: A student attended a full week of Ambulance Care Assistant (ACA) training. The placement included practical experience assisting patients with equipment such as the stairclimber, handling belt, banana board, slide sheet, turntable, stretchers, and wheelchairs. Theoretical training covered Health & Safety, Infection Prevention and Control, Data Protection, Safeguarding, Prevent Radicalisation, Conflict Resolution, and more. The week concluded with Emergency First Aid at Work training, including CPR with an AED and management of other medical conditions.

Birmingham: Four students completed placements across Fleet and Operations, each working between 35–56 hours. They gained practical experience in vehicle maintenance, fleet inspections, operations support, and customer communications, while developing professional skills and confidence in a workplace environment.

All students demonstrated enthusiasm, professionalism, and notable development during their placements, making a positive contribution to HATS teams.