Work Experience

As a parent you will want your child to get the most out of their work experience. This section provides some information and links to sources of further information on work experience. Work experience is good way to improve a CV, to gain experience and to help your child decide what they might like to do.

Basically work experience is a period of time that a young person, especially a student, spends working in a company as a form of training; a short unpaid period of time at a workplace, to gain experience of a working environment or a period (usually one or two weeks) of unpaid work undertaken by secondary school students as part of their careers education. The National Council for Work Experience promotes, supports and develops quality work experiences. They provide general information, advice and guidance. There is specific advice for 15 – 18 year olds with useful links to other sources of information.


Backing Young Britain 

Backing Young Britain is a cross-government campaign bringing together business, public sector organisations and the voluntary sector to provide more work-based opportunities for young people. As part of the campaign, Reed in Partnership is running a programme to provide young unemployed non-graduates with internships and work placements. Find an opportunity for internships and work placements. You will also find careers advice.

Direct Gov

Direct Gov provides information on work experience for those in Year 10 or 11.There is general info on work placements, types of placements, how to apply for one and lots more. 

National Careers Service

This government provided careers website also offers a wealth of information on Work experience.

Trident

Trident from Edexcel aims to help learners gain real-life experience through interesting and relevant work experience. They provide a choice of placements across a wide range of employers. All their work placements undergo a health and safety assessment so that learners have a safe working environment. The Placement Survival Guide on their Health & Safety Website is designed to raise students' awareness before starting work experience whilst allowing teachers to track the progress of their students.

my-work-experience.com

my-work-experience.com has developed innovative approaches to teaching and learning in the areas of work related learning and enterprise education. It provides a guide for teachers and information and tips for students.

Young Enterprise

Young Enterprise offers seven exciting interactive programmes for secondary school, which lets school students experience for themselves how business works. They cover various subjects from setting up a business to world trade and just about everything in between!

Workplacements Abroad

For those wanting to work in another country Workplacements Abroad is a useful resource.


General Advice

Many employers and other organisations offer work placements and an Internet search help you identify what is currently available.

YouTube has a variety of videos featuring first-hand experiences of what work placements can be like.  

You will find specific advice for parents at HSE's 'Additional for Parents'

Trident from Edexcel, recognising the important role that parents can play in supporting young people in their work experience, have produced The Parent Guide to Work Experience which explains how to support your child through the process.

Information for parents and carers can also be found at the Enfield Work Experience site and there is a guide available.

The TUC have a Rights for Interns website that sets out what rights you have as an intern, and explains how they can be enforced.

Many schools produce their own guide so it is worth checking with your child’s school.