T Level Computing student secures employment with Books2Africa

A former Computing student has secured full-time employment after impressing his placement employer, Books2Africa.

Charlie Clements, who studied T Level Digital Production, Design and Development, is now working as a Tech and Digital Media Supervisor for the organisation. In his role, he is responsible for daily tasks, including wiping and refurbishing devices so they can be sent to individuals and communities who need them most. 

As part of the T Level course, he completed a 45-day industry placement with Books2Africa, giving him the opportunity to develop practical skills in a real working environment.

Charlie is delighted to continue the work he began during his placement and is now looking forward to helping grow the charity’s new tech initiative, ‘Computers2Africa’.  

Reflecting on his experience, he said: “When I started my T Level, I was very nervous about beginning my work placement. However, I knew that without workplace experience, it can be much harder to start a career, so I decided it was a challenge worth taking. 

“Learning about the tech department here has been a real highlight. I’ve learnt so much from the team such as refurbishing computers, phones and tablets. It’s been really eye-opening and putting my skills into practice felt so rewarding.” 

During his placement, he worked closely with Books2Africa’s Director of Operations, Tonson Sango, who quickly recognised the potential and commitment that Charlie could bring to the company.  

For Books2Africa, hosting a T Level student also brought significant benefits to the company, with Charlie’s involvement helping to transform the tech department.  

Tonson said of the impact the placement brought: “I’ve found Charlie to be hard-working, dedicated and very detail oriented. I really enjoy working with him and he’s been fantastic to have as part of the team. 

“He was with us two or three days a week during his placement, which allowed us to really scale up our tech programme. Before he joined, we only had one or two people in the department. With him here, we were able to introduce structure, reorganise the space and bring new energy into the team. He’s been a massive help.”

In addition to the skills gained during his T Level course, it was also Charlie’s attitude and willingness to make an impact that secured him the full-time role.  

Tonson added: “He always gave the impression of himself that he was a professional person, somebody who is reliable, somebody who was always on time. For these reasons, when his placement ended, we decided to extend him an offer to work with us, I’m really pleased to have him on board.” 

Tony Ballard, our Industry Liaison Officer for Computing, supported Charlie throughout his placement and was delighted with the outcome.  

He said: “This is exactly the kind of result we hope for. He’s a great young man and thoroughly deserved this opportunity. Hearing such positive feedback from Tonson has been wonderful, and it’s brilliant to see Charlie building his skills and moving forward with his career.” 

Now looking ahead to the next stage of his journey, Charlie encourages future students to consider T Levels if they are unsure of their next step: “If you think a T Level might be right for you, I’d say give it a go. It’s a route where you can gain long-term work experience, and if you prove yourself, like I did, you might even come away with a job at the end of it.” 

If you’re interested in learning more about T Levels and how the 45-day work placement can support your future career, visit our T Levels page.