Information for Employers
Work experience introduces young people to the work environment and is the most important factor in shaping their perception of the world of work. It is a valuable part of their education where they are able to experience working in an adult environment, with its different disciplines, routines, procedures, technology and social structures, in a safe and supervised way. Importantly, students can develop essential key skills for the current job market by observing and participating in real tasks alongside your regular employees.
Last June we successfully placed all of our Year 10 students with local, regional and national employers for work experience. We really appreciated the effort that employers put into the programme, helping our students to see first-hand what employers look for when they are recruiting and how the subjects they study in school link to certain jobs. For many this was their first experience of the working environment and students came back positive and ready to focus their studies for the future.
We do appreciate these are challenging times, and that it is difficult for businesses to devote the time and resources to helping a young person get the most out of work experience. However, taking a work experience student should be straightforward and not as restrictive as you may think. Read our handy guide; it’s not exhaustive but will give you some guidance about the process.
Students are responsible for arranging their own placements and begin the process of contacting potential employers, using the skills they have learnt in their Careers lessons. Students may contact you directly during this process. If this is the case and you have already offered the school a placement, please refer the student back to the school where they can apply for your vacancy through the school's 'Work Experience Job Board'. If you could direct all work experience communications through the Careers Department to avoid duplicate placements, it would be appreciated.
If you agree to take a student you will need to complete an Employer Placement Form and return it to Northgate by Friday 31st March 2023. The Careers Department will request copies of your insurance certificates and young person risk assessments (where necessary) before the placement can commence.
If you can offer a placement to one (or more) of our students, or would like to know more about what is involved in providing a work experience placement, then please contact the Careers Leader via email workexperience@northgate.suffolk.sch.uk.
