National Careers Week 2015 - The Digital Guide | Page 14

14

TUESDAY WEX

10 TOP MANAGING
TIPS
FOR

1. Work experience is no longer a statutory entitlement
but many reports, including The UK Commission for
Employment & Skills report Catch 16-24; highlight the
negative effect that lack of opportunities for work
experience have on a young person’s chances of
employment.

WORK EXPERIENCE
BY

2. Young people in general have a very positive attitude to
work experience and a reported 88% cite it as being useful
or very useful (City & Guilds Ways into Work 2012)
3. Work experience doesn’t necessarily mean the mass
headache of 180 young people out at the same time all
doing whatever placements you can manage to get for
them. It can be managed in so many ways that are more
tailored and manageable.

Written by Janet Colledge - Outstanding Careers

5. The most successful work experience opportunities are
tailored to the interests of young people, so setting up
systems for identifying pupil interests is a good starting
point.
6. Encourage young people to engage in the process of
procuring and/or organising their own experience not only
promotes transferable skills but also helps improve the
efficacy of the placement.

For example;
A.
Work shadowing
B.
Company visits
C. Volunteering
D. Mentoring
E.
Employer engagement in the curriculum
F.
Employer engagement sessions either in school or

in the employers place of business
4. There are a number of organisations which facilitate the
arrangements for school/business interaction. LifeSkills
created with Barclays, Inspiring the future, Founders 4
Schools & Primary futures are just a few of the national
organisations. They may be local organisations such as
Education Business Partnerships or local consortia who
also provide such services.

7. Work with your child protection lead person to develop
systems to ensure compliance with prevailing regulations
and also on health & safety related issues. It will save you
headaches in the future. I had 34 pupils in London on work
experience during the 7/7 attacks on London, I speak from
experience!
8. The effective use of Pupil Premium money can be
demonstrated by using SIMS mark sheets to identify
patterns in achievement amongst pupils exposed to various
different forms of work experience.
9. The Government has simplified the paperwork
necessary for health & safety purposes and no longer insists
on individual risk assessments for each employer
www.hse.gov.uk/youngpeople/workexperience/
10. Building ongoing relationships with employers by
inviting them to school events, sending thank you letters
and Christmas cards pays off in the long run. Don’t let
them feel you only contact them when you want something.