Employer Guide to Work Experience

What is work experience?

A placement with an employer in which a young person carries out a range of tasks in much the same way as an employee, with the emphasis on learning from the experience. Work experience provides opportunities for learning about the skills, behaviours, careers, roles and structures that exist within a workplace.

Is Work Experience of benefit to employers?

Apart from making a real difference to a young person’s working life, offering work experience is beneficial to employers for a number of reasons.

Recruitment opportunities, by seeing a young person who could be a future employee
Staff Development for an experienced employee who learns how to give training and support to someone on work experience
A more engaged workforce by improving the employees’ experience of the company
Engagement in the local community through supporting a local school or college
Contribution to economic development in the local area, by helping young people with their career development.

How do students benefit from a Work Experience placement?

Work experience supports young people to make career decisions, clarify job roles, broaden horizons, develop employability skills and support successful transition into FE, HE, apprenticeships and the workplace. This can be achieved by providing a meaningful work experience placement to develop the following skills:

Communication (listening and speaking)
Creative problem solving (problem solving and creativity)
Self-management (adapting and planning)
Collaboration (leadership and teamwork)

A meaningful work experience placement should have:

Clear purpose & learning outcomes — The employer and student (and school) are aligned on what the student should gain.
Two-way interaction — Students should interact with staff, ask questions, receive mentoring, not merely shadow.
Exposure to a range of roles and people — Show the structure, diversity, and various functions in your organisation.
Real tasks or projects — Wherever possible, students should be given work or challenges meaningful to your operations: small projects, data analysis, research, presentation tasks, process reviews etc.
Feedback & reflection — Students should receive constructive feedback and have time to reflect on their experience and what they’ve learned.

What type of work can students do?

There are very few occupational placements that are prohibited to a student. The emphasis is always on trying to provide an interesting and well balanced placement with real tasks accompanied by real responsibility. In some cases legislation imposes restrictions on the type of work which students can do, these restrictions are designed to protect students from harm through tasks that are unsuitable for them. Due to a student’s inexperience and age some tasks may only be completed under strict supervision or may, in exceptional circumstances, be observation only. If you are in any doubt, clarification should be sought from the school or the Work Experience Team at ESCC.

How much are students paid whilst on Work Experience?

Students must not be paid whilst on Work Experience, as it is an educational experience not employment. However, employers may wish to make a contribution to expenses; e.g. fares and meals.

What hours can a student work whilst on Work Experience?

Students should not work for more than 5 days in any consecutive seven day period and it is a requirement that students should not work more than a standard eight-hour day or forty hours in a week. They should not work excessively long hours or unnecessarily unsocial hours. The number of hours worked together with the pattern of work is normally a matter of agreement by the employer, school and student. Some industries work on shift basis or work evenings, please discuss this with the school and student/parent and ensure travel arrangements suit later working. Students can work up until 10pm in these cases.

How long is a Work Experience programme?

Most students will spend one week with an employer (Block placement), though on occasions, employers may assist with a placement for 1 or 2 days (Extended placement) over a longer period of time, perhaps even a school term or more.

Are there are particular Health & Safety considerations?

East Sussex County Council Work Experience Team will undertake a ‘pre-placement’ visit with an employer before a student starts a placement. This will include confirming contact details, finding out about the tasks a student will do on a placement and some questions in relation to the health and safety of work experience and that of the business.

What Insurance Cover is required?

Students on a work experience placement are treated as employees for the purposes of insurance against bodily injury. Therefore the employer must have ‘Employers Liability Insurance’ in place.

What should an Induction include?

A comprehensive induction should be given to students on their first day and should include, as a minimum:

Orientation taking in to account emergency arrangements (fire, accident and first aid)
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 work place.
Reporting accidents and “near misses”.
Welfare arrangements such as breaks, toilets, eating/drinking arrangements.
Company Health and Safety policy and Risk Assessments.
Any other “do’s” and “don’t’s”.

Top tips for a successful Work Experience

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 a work plan and timetable of activities.
Prepare a risk assessment appropriate to age and work to be done.
Ensure significant risks are communicated to the school and the Work Experience team at ESCC.
Plan an induction programme.
Identify a supervisor and mentor.
Review progress during the work placement.
Provide feedback to the student and school.
Notify the school immediately of any absence.

If you would be interested in hosting a work experience placement please email workexperience@eastsussex.gov.uk

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Privacy notice for employers engaged with the East Sussex County Council work experience service