Employer Guide to Work Experience

Everything you need to know about hosting a Work Experience student

By offering work experience you help a young person develop valuable skills, gain confidence and explore future career opportunities. Whether this is your first time hosting a student or you've done so for many years, this guide provides everything you need to know before, during and after a placement.

What is Work Experience?

Work experience gives young people the opportunity to spend time in a real workplace, learning alongside experienced staff and gaining an understanding of the world of work.

Students carry out a range of suitable tasks, similar to those of an employee, with the emphasis on learning from the experience.

A meaningful placement helps students learn about:

• Different careers and industries
• Workplace skills and behaviours
• The structure of organisations
• The importance of teamwork and communication
• What employers look for in future employees

Is Work Experience of benefit to employers?

As well as making a real difference to a young person's future, offering work experience can bring many benefits to your organisation.

Employers often tell us that hosting a student helps them with:

• Recruitment opportunities
• Staff Development
• A more engaged workforce
• Engagement in the local community
• Contribution to economic development in the local area

Supporting work experience also demonstrates your commitment to developing the future workforce and inspiring the next generation.

How do students benefit from a meaningful Work Experience placement?

A meaningful placement helps young people make informed career decisions while developing the skills employers value most.

Students can build confidence and improve their understanding of different career pathways through real workplace experiences.

They may develop the following:

• Communication (listening and speaking)
• Creative problem solving (problem solving and creativity)
• Self-management (adapting and planning)
• Collaboration (leadership and teamwork)
• Clarifies job roles within industry
• Broadens horizons in relation to career routes and job roles available

A meaningful Work Experience placement should have:

• Clear purpose & learning outcomes

The employer, student and school should all understand what the student is expected to learn from the placement. 

• Two-way interaction

Encourage students to ask questions, interact with staff, receive guidance and become involved in day-to-day activities wherever possible, rather than simply observing. 

• Exposure to a range of roles and people

Introducing students to different teams and job roles helps them understand how your organisation operates and the variety of careers available. 

• Real tasks or projects

Where appropriate, give students meaningful activities that contribute to your organisation, such as research, administration, process reviews or small projects suitable for their age and experience. 

• Feedback & reflection

Provide regular feedback throughout the placement and encourage students to reflect on what they have learned and how they have developed.

What type of work can students do?

Very few occupations are completely unsuitable for work experience students.

The aim is to provide an interesting, varied and meaningful placement with genuine workplace activities and appropriate responsibility.

Students must be supervised at all times due to their age and level of experience. Students are able to undertake a wide variety of tasks however some tasks may not be suitable for students to carry out themselves and, in these cases, they should observe the task being completed.

If you are unsure whether a task is appropriate, please contact the ESCC Work Experience Team for advice – workexperience@eastsussex.gov.uk

How much are students paid whilst on Work Experience?

Students must not be paid whilst undertaking Work Experience, as it forms part of their education rather than employment.

However, some employers choose to reimburse reasonable expenses such as:

• Travel costs
• Lunch or refreshments

Although this is entirely optional, it is always appreciated by students.

What hours can a student work whilst on Work Experience?

Students should not:

• Work more than 5 days in any consecutive 7-day period
• Work more than 8 hours in one day
• Work more than 40 hours in one week

Working hours should be agreed between the employer and student before the placement begins.

Some industries operate evening or shift patterns. Where appropriate, students may work until 10:00pm, provided this has been agreed with the school and parents/carers and suitable travel arrangements are in place.

How long is a Work Experience programme?

Most work experience placements are a block week (Monday – Friday).

Some employers may also offer Extended placements (1 or 2 days a week) spread across several weeks or longer. These can provide additional flexibility for both employers and students.

Are there any particular Health & Safety considerations?

Before a placement begins, the East Sussex County Council Work Experience Team will carry out a pre-placement visit.

This visit helps to:

• Confirm employer contact details
• Discuss the student's planned activities
• Review health and safety arrangements
• Ensure the placement is suitable for a young person
• Provides the employer an opportunity to ask any questions they may have about hosting a placement
• Opportunity for the employer to find out about other careers related activities they could offer

Our aim is to support employers and ensure students have a safe, enjoyable and meaningful experience.

What Insurance Cover is required?

Students on work experience are treated as employees for the purposes of insurance against bodily injury.

Employers must therefore have:

✅ Employers' Liability Insurance

What should an Induction include?

A thorough induction on the student's first day will help them feel confident, safe and welcomed into your organisation.

As a minimum, your induction should include:

✔ Orientation taking into account emergency arrangements (fire, accident and first aid)

✔ Company Health and Safety policy and Risk Assessments.

✔ Any significant risks which may affect them e.g. machinery, equipment, manual handling, hazardous substances, slips/trips, dealing with the public.

✔ Control measures e.g. safe systems of work, supervision, use of PPE, signs and notices.

✔ Supervision and key contacts in the organisation.

✔ Restrictions and prohibitions in the workplace.

✔ Reporting accidents and "near misses".

✔ Welfare arrangements such as breaks, toilets, eating/drinking arrangements.

✔ Any other "do's" and "don'ts".

Top tips for a successful Work Experience placement

Preparing in advance can make a huge difference to both the student and your team.

We recommend that you:

• Meet the young person before the work placement starts.
• Discuss objectives and expectations.
• Agree suitable work tasks to give an understanding of your organisation.
• Devise an induction programme and timetable of the week.
• Prepare a risk assessment appropriate to age and work to be done.
• Identify a supervisor and mentor.
• Review progress and provide feedback during the work placement by supporting the student to complete their logbook.
• Notify the school immediately of any absence – you will receive a daily attendance notification via email.

Thank you for supporting Work Experience

By opening your workplace to a young person, you are helping them develop skills, confidence and aspirations for the future.

Every placement makes a lasting difference and helps prepare the workforce of tomorrow.

Interested in hosting a Work Experience student?

If you would like to offer a placement or would like more information, please contact the ESCC Work Experience Team:

workexperience@eastsussex.gov.uk

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