Becoming an Enterprise Adviser
Find out more about this volunteer opportunity with schools and colleges across England
Plan your online work experience programme to support young people with their school-to-work transition through the pandemic
We are facing uncertain times, but especially for young people looking to the future. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment for young people has increased by 13% (66,000 young people) according to the UK Government’s youth unemployment statistics. Before the pandemic, youth unemployment was at an all-time low. Now, the number of young people uncertain of their next steps after leaving education is increasing, and an estimated 11.2% of young people aged 16–24 were NEET (not in education, employment or training after leaving school) in early 2021.
Within this turbulent context, employability skills have overtaken academic achievements as the most important way to improve young people’s prospects of securing a good job. Key to the acquisition of those skills is practical insight into the world of work that can be accessed through work experience. Time spent with employers broadens young people’s knowledge of industries, helping to shape their career decisions and offering them ways to explore the workplace.
Encouragingly, employers have continued to engage young people during COVID-19, transitioning from face-to-face encounters to virtual activities. In doing so, employers are playing an essential role in helping young people learn about work, gain skills that are valued and take on real-life tasks.
Virtual work experience, also referred to as online, remote, or digital work experience, provides the opportunity to gain knowledge of the world of work from home, in most cases using a computer. This includes:
For more information, see the Careers and Enterprise Company’s guidance on making encounters meaningful.
Virtual delivery requires additional planning to ensure both young people and delivery partners are safeguarded. Ultimately, the safeguarding responsibility lies with the school, but it is important to be aware of the basics:
Watch the CIPD’s webinar on providing virtual work experience to hear more about the benefits to students and organisations, as well as tips on how to set up your own programme.
A large employer and an SME explain their approaches to virtual work experience and how it can benefit both students and staff
Jacobs is one of the world’s largest companies providing technical solutions to make the world smarter, more connected and more sustainable. The company does everything from helping to create a cleaner, healthier River Thames, to making our transport systems more inclusive, and all the way to working with NASA to get the first woman to the Moon by 2024.
In response to the first lockdown, Jason Andrews, Head of Sales Data Science at Jacobs’ European Sales Division, based in London, was responsible for the co-creation of a virtual work experience programme. The programme took Year 10–12 students through the design of a Coronavirus Vaccine Research Centre. The programme aimed to introduce students to the diverse range of careers within STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) fields and to inspire them to ‘challenge today and reinvent tomorrow’. Work experience students have remained engaged and connected with Jacobs after completing the programme, which continues in 2021 and hopefully beyond.
Staff at the beginning of their careers were brought on board to develop their own skills, bring their knowledge to the programme and provide relatable contacts for the students.
Find out more about this volunteer opportunity with schools and colleges across England
Support young people as they think about their careers and take their first steps into the workplace
Explore the CIPD’s point of view on apprenticeships and investment in training, including recommendations for both Government and employers