Work experience is one of the most important links between employers and schools/colleges. It provides an opportunity for young people to experience first-hand (and often for the first time) what happens in a working environment.
Our dedicated team work closely with students to understand their interests in order to match them with a placement opportunity. We successfully place around 1800 students each year and last year 78% of them reported a significant increase in their Employability Skills following their placement. This is testament to the quality of our process and the real and tangible difference employers can make to students.
We manage all aspects of the work experience placement process to make it very simple for any business, of any size, in any sector to provide a placement for a young person. From pre-placement health and safety visits to preparing placement descriptions for students, we’ll guide you every step of the way to set the placement up for success.
Benefits to employers:
- Influence young people’s career choices and raise the profile of careers within your organisation
- Help young people to become truly career ready and build the knowledge and skills that employers demand and value
- An affordable way to deal with recruitment challenges and help address existing and future skills gaps
- Bridge the gap in access to other opportunities such as Saturday jobs and part-time work
- Foster a culture of learning and creativity: young people bring fresh perspectives and a willingness to embrace new ideas. This can instil a culture where curiosity, creativity, teamwork and innovation are celebrated, invigorating and inspiring existing staff members.
- Raise your business profile in the local area with students, parents and teachers
- Provide mentoring and management opportunities for your junior staff
- Support your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) objectives
We source placements for students of different ages with a wide range of interests who are studying a variety of courses/subjects. Placements range in length from a week block placement to extended placements over a longer period. We therefore look for suitable placements across all sectors throughout the year. So please get in touch to register your interest in offering work experience placements.
We enjoy hosting work experience students as not only does it help the young people see what retail is like it also means we can give back to the community and see any potential talent in the students.”
M&S Reading
Having a younger, fresh pair of eyes on site is really beneficial in many aspects, especially when planning events, involving social media, or being creative with posters or presentations. Let’s face it, younger people tend to embrace current trends! Every generation has something else to offer and so diversity aids to the efficiency of the team.”
The White Building, Reading
I can wholeheartedly recommend hosting a young person for work experience, they help you to view your business from another perspective, and you feel the reward at the end of the week when they have learned so much.
I’m immensely chuffed that a work experience student of mine is now training to be a teacher – I’m not taking the credit, she was already a very accomplished student, but she told me that the opportunity to work with children and build her confidence really helped to spur her on, and that is wonderful!”
Liz Banks, Education/Schools Engagement at Thames Water
Contact us
Contact our Work Experience Team, for a chat about the placement opportunities your business can provide.
Phone: 01635 279246 or email us