'Rewarding and formative': Tom's T Level placement experience
Tom Ashforth is a T Level Digital Support Services student, and is also Disabilities Officer on the Students' Union Committee.
Here, Tom shares with us his experience of completing a work placement at Sheffield's Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre – a world-leading centre for physical activity research and innovation – to mark T Level Thursday, part of National Apprenticeship Week...
I am a student at Barnsley College studying a T Level in Digital Support Services and currently serve as Senior Student Consultant for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). I have practical experience in IT support and digital systems, with a strong focus on accessibility, user-centred design, and problem-solving. Alongside my technical development, my advocacy and leadership work in SEND has strengthened my communication, organisational, and collaborative skills. I am highly motivated to apply digital technologies in real-world environments where they can make a meaningful impact.
Over the past few months, I had the opportunity to complete a work placement at the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) at Sheffield Hallam University. This placement allowed me to combine my interests in technology, sport, and research while gaining valuable insight into how digital systems and innovation support elite performance, health, and wellbeing.
During the initial stage of my placement, I focused on understanding the structure and purpose of the AWRC. I was introduced to the team and attended a range of meetings, including PhD mentoring sessions, departmental updates, and collaborative discussions with external partners such as GB Boxing and GB Aquatics. These experiences helped me gain an appreciation of the scale, diversity, and impact of the work taking place within the centre.
Alongside this, I began supporting day-to-day technical tasks, including resolving IT issues, assisting with presentations, and learning how different
digital systems are used within both research and high-performance sport environments. This early exposure helped me build confidence and adapt quickly to a professional research setting.
As my placement progressed, I became increasingly involved in hands-on technical work. I supported equipment setup, data capture processes, and troubleshooting of TEOS presentation systems. I also configured computers for video streaming and data collection and took part in a live testing demonstration for sport science students.
A particularly valuable experience was working with drop-testing systems, where I helped configure both software and hardware components. I also produced a TEOS help guide to improve usability and support staff and students. These tasks significantly strengthened my technical confidence, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills, while also helping me understand the importance of reliability and clarity in research environments.
Throughout my time at the AWRC, I also had the chance to support several key events, including:
• A PhD poster day at the City Campus, where I learnt about data collection and research design.
• A careers fair at a local school, helping promote sport, engineering, and technology pathways.
• Meetings with British Cycling about installing camera systems at their BMX centre.
• Observing and supporting lab testing sessions with researchers and placement students.
These experiences gave me a broader understanding of how research is communicated and applied —and the importance of collaboration between academics, students, and industry partners.
A key part of my placement involved managing digital content and supporting media-related projects. I created and updated a SharePoint site, uploaded
and organised video content, and merged footage for the National Centre for Children’s Health Research Technology (NCCHR) timelapse project. I also helped design visual floor plans for conferences and contributed to the development of a staff sign-in system to improve efficiency within the centre.
This work enhanced my skills in data management, digital organisation, and system design, and reinforced how well-structured digital solutions can support large, complex research operations.
Towards the end of my placement, I attended lectures and discussions focused on the role of artificial intelligence in sport and research. These sessions provided valuable insight into how emerging technologies such as machine learning, predictive analytics, and computer vision are being used to enhance performance analysis, injury prevention, and wellbeing research. This reinforced my interest in future-focused digital roles within research and innovation-led environments.
Reflecting on my time at the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, this placement has been a highly rewarding and formative experience.
I have developed a broad range of technical and professional skills, from IT support and system configuration to communication, teamwork, and research awareness. Being trusted to contribute meaningfully within a professional research environment significantly increased my confidence and confirmed my ambition to pursue a career in digital support and technology-led innovation.
Working within such an inclusive, forward-thinking, and supportive environment has inspired me to continue exploring opportunities where technology, sport, and human performance intersect. I am extremely grateful to everyone at the AWRC for their guidance, encouragement, and willingness to support my development throughout the placement. Their support made this experience both impactful and motivating, and it has had a lasting influence on my future goals.
Dr Simon Goodwill, Head of Research in the School of Sport and Physical Activity at AWRC, said: “I first met Tom when he was a Year 10 student during his week-long work experience with us in 2023. We were delighted to welcome him back for his year-long T Level industry placement in 2025. Tom demonstrated exceptional initiative and adaptability throughout his placement at Sheffield Hallam University.
"His technical skills, passion for sport and physical activity, and ability to quickly integrate into a professional research environment were outstanding. Tom’s contributions to digital systems, problem-solving, and collaborative projects added real value to our team, and his enthusiasm for learning and innovation was evident in everything he did. He’s an asset to any institution he joins and has a bright future ahead in sport and digital technology.”
