Modern Work Experience
A work experience guarantee for every young person.
Too many young people are missing out on work experience. Disadvantaged young people are more likely to miss out than others. This matters.
High quality work experience helps young people get ready for the world of work. When integrated into a structured careers programme - as defined by the Gatsby Benchmarks, work experience:
- Increases awareness of jobs and pathways like apprenticeships.
- Builds confidence in key skills like speaking and listening.
- Reduces the likelihood of a young person becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) at 16 and 18.
equalex is a new approach, that sits alongside other proven activity, designed to support two weeks' worth of high-quality work experience for every young person. It is currently being piloted in partnership with four Mayoral Combined Authorities.
Key features of equalex
- Quality: A multi-experience model that uses learning objectives to join activity together during a young person’s time at school.
- Equity: A minimum of 10 days (two weeks’ worth) of work experience - tailored days, blocked periods etc. - tracked at the learner and school level.
- Flexibility: Structured to support all types of school and business, including smaller employers.
The approach is designed to be implemented during secondary school (but can include post-16 learners).
equalex offers a three-tiered model to ensure experiences build on each other – joined together by increasingly demanding learning objectives.
equalex in practice
Early-stage piloting aligned with Mayoral priorities is taking place in 2024/25. The model provides learning outcomes for educators, coordinates employer efforts and removes administrative burdens for both. There is a focus on young people facing barriers. Our ambition is to see this adopted across the country.
For a young person, this might look like:
|
|
Year 8 |
Year 9 |
Year 10 |
|
No of days |
2 |
3 |
5 |
|
Experience |
2 x work experience days
|
3 x work experience days
(One day per term, 3 different workplace experiences in smaller groups) |
1-weeks' worth with variety of experiences
(Two days + three days, split over two different terms OR 1 block week ) |
|
equalex tier |
1 |
1 & 2 |
3 |
|
Learning focus |
Inspiration |
Explore roles & responsibilities in growth sectors |
Apply skills & knowledge in the workplace |
The model offers structure, not prescription about when and how the 10 days (two weeks' worth) of work experience should be delivered. The flexibility – asked for by employers and schools – will help develop innovative and impactful approaches.
- The chance to offer work experience suitable to their size, industry and capacity including smaller employers who represent an untapped source of expertise.
- Inform and inspire learners about job roles in their sectors with incentives for priority sectors to address skills shortages.
- Develop relationships over the longer term – from year 7 onwards - building talent pipelines.
- Support from local Careers Hubs to ensure efficiency and co-ordination.
- The opportunity to develop experiences to match school and learner needs.
- Track days (and compliance) at the learner level.
- Connect work experience to wider curriculum goals including personal development.
- Access to ready-made resources and employers through local Careers Hubs.
- Benefit from ongoing and connected experiences with an emphasis on equity for disadvantaged learners.
- Link everyday learning to the skills and knowledge employers are looking for.
- Gain valuable insight into different industries to support career planning.
