What is work experience?
Work experience (or industry placements) are external learning opportunities where students work with an organisation for a set period. This could be for a block period of a week or more, or one day a week spread out across the year.
The type of work experience should align with the course they are on and reflect their interests based on the industry they would like to step into. This will offer them the best opportunities to boost their practical and employability skills.
All our 16-18 year old students must complete work experience as part of their course, whether that be a vocational course like a BTEC, or a T Level course.
Benefits for your organisation
There are benefits to taking on work experience students for your organisation.
- Use it as a recruitment strategy
Once a student has shown you what they can achieve, you may want to consider hiring them. This could be direct into employment or onto an apprenticeship. Each year some of our students gain employment as a direct result of their work experience placement.
- Fill entry-level positions and build the skills you need
Work placements are a great way to fill entry-level positions with the intention to train the young person with the skills your organisation needs. You may need an extra pair of hands on a short-term basis, or perhaps extra support one day a week throughout the year without needing to employ a full-time staff member.
- Help meet CSR goals
Taking on work experience students could help you meet your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals. This may help with future bids, tenders or funding applications where you can show support and benefits for the community.
- Shape the direction of education
By supporting our students, you can help shape the direction of education related to your industry. This could mean more highly skilled individuals who are better suited to your workforce entering the employment market.
Benefits for students
Work experience or industry placements have a positive impact on young people’s lives, exposing them to the industry they want to enter as well as allowing them to meet the industry professionals they can learn from. Benefits include:
- Experience their industry of interest in real-time
- Putting college-learnt skills to practical use
- Increasing their employability skills
- Boosting their confidence and ability
- Building connections for the future
See what our students say
See what our students say about their time during work experience and some of the opportunities that they have encountered.
Tily - Automotive Engineering
Discover Tily's story of joining an Automotive Engineering course at Waltham Forest College and now moving onto an Apprennticeship with Mercedes.
Akdas - Business
T Level student Akdas undertakes his industry placement at Morgan Hunt, a leading national recruitment agency.
Hayley - Engineering
Discover Hayley's story of joining an Engineering course at Waltham Forest College and her work experience at Keir Construction.
