We arrange successful work experience placements each year for 3000 young people aged 14-16.  The aim is for students to obtain valuable experience and an insight into the world of work as part of their employability journey.

Young people need to develop employability skills1 - self-management, business and customer awareness, problem solving, team working, literacy, numeracy, computing and a positive attitude. Work experience is recognised as providing the fundamental grounding for quality work-related learning experiences and employers are best placed to provide the introduction and practical application.

According to the CBI, work experience is a highly rewarding and valuable experience for the vast majority of students and employers.  With almost two thirds of people who undertake work experience saying it helped them choose their future career direction2, work experiences are proven to play a vital role in the employability journey of young people as well as giving employers the opportunity to engage with prospective employees.

 It is a great marketing technique where young people can get to see how the business works and for the employer to demonstrate and excite young people into that sector.

We take care of all the preparation leading up to the placement, including health and safety student briefings and support both employer and student during the placement to ensure it is a positive experience all round.  Even one student for two weeks will make a difference.

1 Defined by CBI in ‘Time Well Spent’ report (2007) 2source: edexcel.org.uk/workexperience_survey

What is work experience
Work experience is an opportunity for young people to:

• gain practical experience of real work conditions
• observe people doing a range of jobs - some they may not have come across before
• meet and get to know different types of people
• develop confidence and personal responsibility
• find out what kind of work s/he is good at and may eventually want to do.

Young people may not receive payment for work experience.  It’s about learning not earning.  And they cannot work outside the hours stipulated in the job description unless negotiated by your son/daughter at interview and agreed with parents.

Placement Types
Most placements we organise are for 14-16 year old students from Milton Keynes schools and College who take up a one- or two-week block placement with a local employer. This could involve anything from working in the IT department of a large organisation to stripping paint in a small workshop. The possibilities are as many as the 120,000 employees working in Milton Keynes.
For these students, the main aims of work experience are understanding the world of work, developing personal and social skills and generally improving their level of employability. While for those students following vocational qualifications, the placements are more focused to specifically achieve course outcomes.
The most successful placements are those that are well structured and the student’s needs have been matched to the normal work activities of the host employer.
We help the employer to identify suitable tasks for the student to undertake when on placement, and carry out the necessary check and provide guidance on health and safety, insurance and risk assessments.
The one or two week block placements take place at set times in the academic year.

Extended placements
We also organise 'extended' placements which give young people a schedule of one or two days per week in a workplace. This is often supported by a day in college and/or an individual school timetable.
The aims of such placements are more extended and more focused on specific outcomes than the one or two week block placements. Students investigate specific aspects of the world of work for their sixth form qualifications and/or practise particular vocational skills.
We support the student and the employer before and during any placement to ensure that maximum benefit is drawn from the experience.

Placement Process
The process may seem quite daunting with many complex steps along the way.  But we have many years experience of setting up work placements and have learned ways to minimise the hassle while working within an established framework and to strict guidelines.  Whatever the placement type, our aim is to create relevant and effective work placements for all the students and schools we support so that everyone is able to make the most of the experience.
The key steps in the process are:

1. Schools give an introduction to work experience for students
2. EBP staff attend an Information Evening for parents (optional)
3. Students complete an application form which must be signed by parents to show they are happy with the choices that their son/daughter has made. (Students may arrange their own placements if someone they know if prepared to take them. In such cases, an additional form must be completed.)
4. EBP staff begin contacting companies to find all the placements necessary for the students.
5. Once all the application forms are returned the EBP completes the matching of students with employers. Every student is placed with individual needs in mind.
6. Six weeks before the placement date, placement confirmations are sent to the school. Students are given a job description.
7. All confirmed placements are visited by trained EBP staff to ensure they are suitable and safe, and to check they meet with minimum health and safety and insurance standards. All companies are asked to complete a risk assessment.
8. Students are prepared for their placements either by school or EBP staff. The student must contact their placement to arrange an interview; sometimes the employer will complete this over the phone.
9. The placement commences. Students should be visited by a member of school staff during the placement.
10. The employer completes a report form at the end of the placement indicating how the student got on in their placement, and returns this to us.
11. Following the placements, the school and EBP staff complete a review of placements and processes.

Health & Safety
It is essential to ensure that best Health & Safety practice is followed.  All our work experience staff are fully trained and have completed an IOSH Managing Safely course before carrying out any Health & Safety visits.  Staff also complete in-house training after the IOSH course to ensure their knowledge is kept up to date and best practice is followed.  
We visit all work placements used on a regular basis, according to their risk banding as follows:  High risk - 1 year; Medium risk - 2 years; Low risk - 3 years.
However, if the company moves premises, the work experience contact changes or if we have received feedback that is not positive we will make an additional visit. We will also undertake, where necessary, separate visits whenever students with special needs are placed with a company.
The reason for visiting a company is to ensure the environment is suitable and safe for students. During the initial Health & Safety visit, EBP staff complete a questionnaire with the member of staff responsible for hosting the students. The following areas are addressed:

• Hours of work, dress code, welfare arrangements e.g. breaks
• Tasks the student will undertake
• General H&S policies, ensuring the supervisor is aware of their responsibilities to students, e.g. first aid, fire procedures, emergency arrangements.
• Equipment the student can or cannot use.
• Insurance and risk assessments - see below

The employer is then asked to sign the form.
We will not set up a placement with a company which we do not believe can provide a suitable work environment and tasks for a student.

Insurance
All employers taking students on work experience must have full Employers & Public Liability Insurance.  Wthout this, the placement cannot go ahead. EBP staff must see the certificate at the H&S visit.  In addition we advise employers to inform their insurers they are hosting a work experience student.  (This rarely makes any difference to premium payments.)

Risk Assessment
All employers are asked to complete a risk assessment taking into account the student's age and immaturity. Parents have the right to be made aware of the risks to their sons/daughters.
A copy of the company’s risk assessment will normally be sent to the student with the details of their placement. However, there are occasions where the student will be given a copy of the company risk assessment when they start the placement, and in some circumstances the student will be advised of the risks verbally.
Students are given H&S information and training before they start their placement. It is essential that employers inform us immediately should any accident/incident occur to the student.
Students will be required by us to sign an agreement form stating that the they

• will comply with all safety, security and other instructions given by the employer
• will not disclose any information confidential to the employer.

Preparation Sessions
It is important that students are well prepared for their work experience placement.

• Parents Evening

This is an evening presentation at the school attended by EBP staff explaining the process from the beginning to what happens on the first day of a work experience placement.

• Interview Skills

This will be delivered to the students within school 2-4 weeks prior to commencement of the placement. EBP staff will inform the students that they are expected to contact employers for an interview, prepare questions to ask at the interview and to consider appropriate dress and behaviour during the interview.

• Employers' Expectations

This session is delivered to the students within school 2-4 weeks prior to commencement of the placement. Employers will be asked to speak explaining the kind of expectations they have of a work experience student.

• Health & Safety

A Health & Safety presentation will be given to all students prior to commencement of their placement covering all aspects of Health & Safety within the workplace. This gives the student a very important insight into Health & Safety.

• Tutors' Briefing

EBP staff brief tutors on all aspects of the work experience process from the completion of online forms to staff visits.

Employer Forms

Visit Report
Understanding
Child Protection Guidance
Induction Checklist

FAQs
1) What is work experience?
At Key Stage 4, when they are 14-16 years old, the majority of students undertake Work Experience placements. This can either be for a one or two week block or for one or more days a week over a number of weeks.
Most schools use the services of brokers, mainly Education Business Partnerships such as Countec EBP. Our role as brokers is to help identify suitable placement opportunities, organise the necessary health and safety and insurance checks, and support the matching and briefing of students.
Work experience is the most important link between employers and schools and MK College. Employers have a vital role to play in making education more work related, developing the skills and attitudes which young people need for the world of work and creating a well trained and motivated future work force.

2) The student will be bored. How will I know what they can do?
Our Work Experience team will work with you to identify suitable tasks for the young person based on their knowledge of other similar environments.
A successful placement should be structured so there is:

• an initial induction on the first day, which will include a tour of the premises, fire procedures, and other relevant health and safety considerations.
• some explanation/overview of the work of the company, its aims and objectives
• a named person for the young person to report to during the placement
• some ‘hands on’ tasks and guidance as to their completion
• some time to observe more complex tasks or an opportunity to see training videos or other training material
• time for the student to reflect and record their observations in a logbook
• a review session at the end of the placement

Some employers find that a "mixed" placement works well, where the student spends time in different departments. This can give them a better insight into the company. If they can also have short interviews with one or more members of staff in the departments, this will add to their career knowledge. However, in an environment where there is a range of tasks that the student can do, then working in one department might be more appropriate.
Some companies build in a short project to the placement. This could involve research about aspects of the company (e.g. using company brochures, website, interviews, etc), or looking at the use of IT in the company and why different methods are used.

3) Will taking on a student on work experience add to my insurance premium?
Students on placement should generally be covered by your employer liability insurance at no additional cost, providing you have notified your insurance company about the dates of the placement in advance. It is understood that companies do have the discretion to charge an additional amount. However research shows that this additional premium is only charged infrequently.

4) Will there be a lot of work/paperwork?
All placement providers have to be checked for health and safety and insurance purposes and records kept of the placements as young people are involved. The bureaucracy is dealt with as efficiently as possible.  We are well aware of the time pressures faced by employers.

5) What about child protection?
In most cases, where the student will be working with a number of adults on a block work experience, CRB checks will not be required. However, EBP staff who visit will discuss with you whether there are policies within the company regarding declarations for staff working with children.
CRB checks may be required when a placement extends over a longer period, or where the student would be working with mainly one adult.  In all cases where a CRB check is required, we will discuss this fully with you.

6) We have very busy periods - does it matter if we cannot help very often?
We know there are times of the year (e.g. financial year end) where you would not be able to help. Such information about your company will be carefully recorded and you will not be approached during these times. Some companies are able to help on a very regular basis, some only once or twice a year. All help is appreciated!

7) Will tasks be restricted due to health and safety considerations?
The tasks agreed must take into account Health & Safety, and this can sometimes appear restrictive. The initial visit to discuss the placement should include, where possible, discussion with the person responsible for Health & Safety at the company. Sometimes it will be more appropriate for the young person to observe and have processes explained to him/her, rather than undertake the task him/herself.

8) What about risk assessments and insurance?
All employers are asked to complete a risk assessment taking into account the student's age and immaturity. Parents have the right to be made aware of the risks to their sons/daughter. Usually a risk assessment will be sent to the student with the details of his/her placement. However, there are occasions where the student will be given a copy of the company risk assessment when they start the placement, and in some circumstances the student will be given the risks verbally.
Students are given Health & Safety information and training before they start their placement. Employers are asked to inform Countec EBP immediately should any accident/incident occur to the student.
All employers taking students on work experience must have full Employers & Public Liability Insurance.  Without this the placement cannot go ahead. EBP staff must see the certificate at the Health & Safety visit.