Ministers must recognise the importance of pre-16 work experience says chamber

A HUGE majority of businesses, school and college leaders want ministers to recognise the importance of pre-16 work experience, according to a survey published by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce.
 
The survey of 100 business and education leaders in Staffordshire found that 87% believed secondary schools should offer work experience for pupils aged under 16.

Work experience is not offered universally across the UK and in England, in particular, it has been deprioritised said the chamber.

However, 81% of employers in Staffordshire who responded to the survey said that work experience is the most important activity to equip young people with workplace skills, followed by paid part-time work (68%) and volunteering (51%).

While the majority of the businesses surveyed said they offered some form of work experience, 22% offer no work experience of any kind. Micro and small businesses, in particular, need greater support to offer work experience, said the chamber.
 
Commenting on the findings, Jane Gratton, Deputy Chief Executive and Policy Manager at Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, said: “Work experience helps the young person and the employer, but it needs to be flexible, properly planned and involve real and meaningful work.

“Businesses want to work with schools and colleges to ensure the curriculum meets the needs of the local economy, to highlight the fantastic opportunities available with local employers, and to help young people leave education with the vital skills and behaviours they need to succeed in the workplace.”
 
Further findings from the survey:

Businesses should prioritise delivery of work experience.
•    45% of firms identified work experience as the top priority activity for businesses to offer young people, over business mentoring (16%), part-time paid work (13%), enterprise activities (12%), volunteering (6%), and other (2%).
 
There’s no single ideal work experience model – businesses that offer work experience value a variety of models.
•         57% of firms offer one to two week term-time work experience placements, 39% offer work placements during school holidays, 31% offer flexible work placements and 23% arrange visits to their businesses for groups of pupils.
 
Two-thirds of businesses offer work experience of some form. Those that don’t say that they need more support and encouragement to offer work experience.
•    22% of businesses offer no work experience of any kind.
•    Firms that don’t currently offer work experience would be encouraged to do so by having more information about what is required (14%), someone to facilitate the relationship with the school (24%) and clarity on the benefits to their business (5%).