Modern Work Experience
Modern work experience should guarantee every young person access to high-quality, multiple workplace experiences, totaling 10 days' worth throughout secondary education.
This equitable approach will facilitate a variety of experiences starting early, connecting education and young people with industry and unlocking the skills and opportunities of the future workforce.
High quality work experience helps young people get ready for the world of work and 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.
What is the value of modern work experience?
Modern work experience will help young people to make informed choices and improve career readiness and employability by offering multiple, variable and targeted experiences throughout their education journey.
What is modern work experience?
A programme of modern work experience should:
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- Prioritise young people who are missing out and provide targeted support |
- Start early, allowing access to multiple, different industries and occupations |
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- Include experiences that are employer-led in their design |
- Be underpinned by learning |
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- Enable meaningful relationships between the employer and young person |
- Offer meaningful experiences as defined in updated Gatsby Benchmark 6 |
The equalex framework, developed by The Careers & Enterprise Company, plays a vital role in supporting the government's commitment to introduce 10 days' worth of modern work experience for every young person.
Designed to meet the needs of young people, educators, employers, and providers, the framework enables a wide range of high quality activities through a whole-school approach, effectively bridging the gap between the curriculum and the world of work.
equalex pilot programme
The equalex approach is currently being piloted, our ambition is to see this adopted across the country.
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The model offers structure, not prescription about when and how the 10 days' 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.
