Work Experience The Benefits

“We have used EBP to organise our work experience for many years.  The system is easy to use and the range of placements available is impressive.  The back-up and support provided by Portsmouthe EBP is outstanding, they answer queries promptly and efficiently and go the extra mile to ensure that our pupils have a meaningful and productive work experience”. Jan Caddy Deputy Headmistress , Wykeham House School September 2011

Work experience is a key part of the personal and social development programmes in schools. Although the students are the main beneficiaries there are significant benefits for all who contribute to the programmes.

The main benefits of effective work experience programmes for students are:

• Increased motivation towards course work and to reaching attainment levels in line with their potential
• Opportunities to apply knowledge and skills developed in the classroom in a real working environment
• Development of important core skills, personal qualities
• Preparing for working life through direct experience of the day to day requirements of having a job and by learning skills in preperation for working in a particular occupational area
• Improved understanding of industry and the working environment
• Expanding vocational awareness by broadening the range of occupations that they are prepared to consider and by enabling them to test a vocational preference before further commitment to it
• Raised awareness of how rights and responsibilities, equal opportunities, health and safety and care of the environment apply in the workplace
• Lets you see if you’d enjoy doing a job on a day to day basis
• During work experience you can see first hand what happens in a typical day on the job. Getting a realistic idea of the positive and negative parts of a job helps you make a more informed choice
• Meeting people in the job, how they ended up in their line of work, and what qualifications they have
• You can learn about related jobs in the same field, which could give you more ideas about what kind of career you might go into

Crofton School Student Feedback

Click on the link below to view feedback written by pupils from Crofton School who carried out their Work Experience in May 2011

Crofton School Work Experience Personal Satements

Extended Work Experience

Extended Work experience involves a placement of between 2 weeks and one academic year for a student aged 14 – 16. Placements can be from 1/2 day to 2 days per week or a two week block. The scheme is designed to build and develop the student’s skills in a chosen occupational area and supports any vocational qualifications they may be undertaking.

Who can offer a placement and why?

Any company that can offer work, which has more than one employee at the place of work, and has employee liability insurance, may be able to offer a placement. Reasons for doing so include to:

• Contribute to the development and education of a local young person
• Give a local young person the basic skills needed for work
• Help train the workforce of tomorrow
• Encourage young people to think about a career in your field of work
• Contribute to the wealth of the local community
• If you are an employer wishing to offer Extended Work Placements please call 023 9228 3441

 If you are a school and would like to know more about EWEX, then please email Ian at isaynor@portsmouthebp.co.uk

 Please click here to see just some of the Businesses that EBP work with