NPL Academy

Providing GCSE & A Level students with a real taster of work at the UK's leading measurement research laboratory.

The NPL Academy was introduced in 2008 to give GCSE and A Level students a structured opportunity to get the most out of a week's worth of work experience at one of the UK's leading scientific establishments.

Students are given an induction to NPL and the type of work we are involved with, and they are given a tour of the lab. There are also a number of group exercises so individual students can get to know each other. The students are then 'passed over' to a host in the business who will allocate them to a specific project to work on during their week here.

One afternoon is spent on an Academy team exercise and, weather permitting, this will involve building and launching water rockets.

The morning of the final day is spent polishing reports on the week's work for presentation on the last afternoon to an audience comprising hosts, peers, teachers and parents. Prizes are given for the best presentations.

Typically we welcome a cohort of 30-35 students, though competition is intense - there are usually about four applicants per place.

NPL concentrates its energies in providing a top experience work placement scheme, so does not offer additional placements.

NPL Academy 2013

All placements for NPL Academy 2013 have now been allocated and application is closed. To get an idea on what NPL has to offer, see details of 2013 placements ...

Dates for your diary

8 - 12 July 2013:
NPL Academy takes place

December 2013:
Details of NPL Academy 2014 and how to apply will appear here

Where are they now?

The NPL Academy can really help solidify your career choices - find out here what previous Academy students are now up to...

The NPL Academy is run in conjunction with the Richmond Education Business Partnership (REBP), supported by the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames