Work Experience from an employer perspective

This session

• The context in which I work

• The barriers to effective work experience

• Strategies for overcoming these

• A work experience curriculum

The Context Formation Training & Development Ltd

• Established in 1997

• Based in Hucknall in Nottinghamshire

• Core staff plus 50 associates with national reputations

• Strong ethical base

- care for the environment

- family friendly

- commitment to staff development

- commitment to our community

• Changing in response to economic situation

• Reputation for high quality

The Context - Our work

• Work with schools, local councils and other organisations

- Enterprise

- Leadership development

- Training for business start-ups

• National work

- Devised the assessment and moderation for HLTA and EYP

- Monitoring of HLTA and EYP providers

- Evaluation projects

• Projects

- Career Champions

- Supporting Excellence

- Young Dragons

- Enterprising schools

Support for the community

• Purchase from local suppliers wherever possible

• Liaise with other local and regional organisations

• Free training for local business employers and staff

• Family friendly policies to assist local employees

• Strategic relationship with local schools

• Director on business engagement group

Support for schools

• Both Directors are governors of local schools

• Member of a Business Advisory Board of one academy

• Mentoring for senior staff

- Vice principals

- Early Years leader

• Work experience

- Aim Higher placements for undergraduates

- Work experience for school students

Barriers for employers

• Anxiety about how best to support someone on work experience

• Concern about having enough for them to do

• Uncertainty about how to judge the level of work

• Not sure about the level of authority required/allowed

• Unclear about the level of tolerance expected

• Not knowing if you are getting it right

• Low level liaison from school once the placement starts

Strategies to overcome barriers

Overcoming the barriers

• Provide clear guidance about work experience parameters

• Clarity about expectations

• School staff visit during the placement

• Opportunities for employers to meet each other

• Complete a simple review sheet

• Be given feedback

• Be provided with guidance on helping a student progress

 

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A Work Experience Curriculum

Student progression during work experience

• Numeracy

• Literacy

• Communication Skills

• Employment intelligence

• Technical skills

- IT

- Research

- Use of equipment

Support employers to use their work environment to help students develop:

Student progression - continued

Literacy

• reading basic instructions & summarising results

• writing a memo or note to a staff member

Numeracy

• opportunities for arithmetic calculations

• understanding and manipulation of a simple spread sheet

 

Student progression - continued

Communication skills

• speaking to customers

• interviewing/talking to other staff about their job

• understanding induction and expectations

• conforming to dress codes

• complying with time and attendance requirements

Employment intelligence

Student progression - continued

Technical skills

• appropriate use of IT

• use of the telephone

• research using

- the internet

- telephone directory

- local papers

 

Guidance for employers

Employers need:

• Basic information about the work experience placement

- responsibilities of the employer

- responsibilities of school and contact information

- what to expect from students

• Tips for employers based on the sector for their business

- based on the progression areas previously outlined

• Simple review form on skill development for students

 

Guidance for employers

Parent/Carers need:

• Information about what work experience involves

- understanding of how parents can support students

- what is expected of students

• Tips on helping students to talk about the experience

• A review form to complete about skill development

- Based on the one for employers and students

 

Building effective partnerships

Four dimensions

StudentsSchool staff

Parents/carersEmployer

Outcome - a supportive environment