Sections

Experiences of the Workplace

Gatsby Benchmark 6 states that every student should have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks. 

 

Redefining what excellence looks like in experiences of the workplace allows us to consider innovative and personalised solutions to delivering modern and meaningful experiences. 

 

Experiences of the workplace programmes that are high quality and achieve impact should: 

  • Be tailored to the individual needs of the young people involved 

  • Start from Year 7 and progressively build layers of learning 

  • Have clear intent and structure to provide meaningful and immersive opportunities 

  • Be responsive to employer need and reflective of modern working practices.

 

Download our guide here.

 

Our Careers Excellence Seminar on experiences of the workplace provides inspiring insights from panellists including a young person, an employer and a range of Education Leaders, which can be used as CPD to help engage colleagues with the importance of creating meaningful experiences of the workplace.

For Careers Leaders

Watch this webinar and use this guide to help you meet Benchmark 6 more meaningfully and deliver positive student outcomes.

Use this report to get top tips from other Careers Leaders on achieving Benchmark 6.

For Employers

Explore these resources to find out more about the steps to creating high quality and impactful experiences of the workplace.

Within each school and college there are rigorous safeguarding policies and procedures. This document supports employers to understand their responsibilities. Find out more about how employers can provide inclusive and impactful experiences of the workplace in this guide.

Research

Our 2022 Ready for the Future report shows that provision is improving but there is more to do:

  • Nearly two thirds of students (65%) in Year 13 had experiences of the workplace – a level last seen in 2018/19 and up from 47% during the pandemic.
  • More than four in five employers (82%) say they are now running in-person workplace visits with 3 in five (61%) running one to two week in-person work placements.

Research has shown that disadvantaged young people, who have fewer connections and social networks, disproportionately benefit from high quality interactions with employers. 

Case Studies

Read these case studies shared by Trusts across the country to find out more about great practice in action. They cover five different potential aims for experiences of the workplace: 

  • Raising opportunity awareness 

  • Getting ‘real-life’ experience of work via projects, etc 

  • Understanding pathways at 16 and 18 

  • Sense check of career interests/ideas 

  • Supporting positive destinations data/reduce NEET