Equality and Human Rights Commission

Work placement providers based in England have duties as employers under the Act towards a student (see Employment Guidance). You must ensure that you do not discriminate in any of the arrangements that you make with work placement providers and that where relevant they are made aware of the needs of their placement students with protected characteristics. If you are told that discrimination has occurred, you will need to negotiate with the work placement provider to try and resolve the issue and may need to find an alternative placement.

You must also ensure that a work placement provider is aware of the need to make reasonable adjustments for those disabled students who require them.

For Example:

A student with a visual impairment who requires all written material to be in large font is studying on a degree course with a work placement element. The university fails to advise the work placement provider of the student’s reasonable adjustments needs and as a result the work placement provider fails to make the necessary reasonable adjustments.