My experience as a Group Leader

My first experience as a Group Leader was in April 2023 with Blue Stamp’s work placement coordinator Hélène, which was a great way to learn the ropes! Since then I’ve led 4 further trips to Lille and enjoyed every one for different reasons. In many ways the role is one of being a reassuring presence in the field for students who have never done anything like this before.

Leading groups in Lille

Lille is a perfect location for work experience students. Apart from being less than 90 minutes from London, I love the Flemish architecture. The historic centre is actually very small and manageable and most placements are no more than 15 minutes from there. Placements in fast moving café, restaurant and hotel environments always prove especially successful as there will be lots of opportunities to speak and listen to spoken French. But I have also visited students in hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, boutiques, nurseries, dog-grooming salons and music stores.

Group Leader, Justin, with his Work Experience Abroad group in Lille, Easter 2026. — Justin is a Group Leader for Blue Stamp Travel’s seasonal mixed-school Work Experience Abroad trips in France.

Supporting students

Most of my work involves keeping an eye on messages on the phone, checking in on students and sometimes acting as a liaison between the student and their employer for minor issues. On rare occasions it has become apparent that a placement hasn’t worked out for one reason or another. My first priority is the well-being of the student followed by a need for quick action to fix up an alternative placement. Fortunately Blue Stamp always has a plan B in reserve!

I visit every student in their placement at least once, sometimes more often, and always complete an appraisal of the students’ performance with their employer as well as a health and safety questionnaire. We celebrate this on the last night of our trip by awarding certificates.

I also make sure to get the group together socially on at least two other evenings per week, at places such as bowling alleys, cafes and restaurants etc. I always find that the groups bond quickly even though most were strangers before meeting at St Pancras. Often they will meet up independently after work in the main square Grand’Place to walk to the Parc de la Citadelle to enjoy the late afternoon Lille sunshine.

Justin O'Connell as a Group Leader in Lille. — Group Leaders regularly visit students throughout the week to offer support and check on their progress.

Looking ahead

I love being a Group Leader and seeing the students’ feedback on Babel afterwards makes every trip worthwhile. Every student is better able to understand fast spoken French by the end of their placement and many students noticeably grow in confidence in speaking the language. I know that this has been a factor in their academic success later on. I also enjoy meeting staff at the work experience who have looked after previous Blue Stamp students. They are always professional, patient and welcoming and they appreciate seeing a friendly face again.

If you’re interested in completing Work Experience Abroad in Lille, why not join one of our seasonal mixed-school group trips? We travel during the Easter and summer holidays. Head to our Mixed School Work Experience Abroad webpage for more information.