27/08/2025
By Rob Houlston FIEP, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Development at Twin Group
The world of work and business has changed dramatically over the last 30 years, with the reduction of industry, rise of hybrid and working from home, introduction of technologies and AI, self-employed working and micro businesses, and current challenges that businesses face with rising costs and demands on staff. Also consider the internet, social media and many jobs we do today didn’t exist 30 years ago. Collectively this is making it more difficult than ever for young people to get meaningful work experience, and build skills needed for a successful future career.
Thinking back to my own experiences, I had dreams of becoming a professional footballer, similar to many boys growing up. My school and college tempered this with careers around sport and provided me with work experience placements at local leisure centres and professional football clubs. These experiences led me into my first jobs and career in sports coaching, and later people services.
I was lucky, work experience worked for me, but I know it doesn’t for everyone.
Current feedback suggests that only half of young people currently receive meaningful work experience, this is significantly lower in areas of deprivation. Where work experience is working successfully, parents/carers are often key, sourcing work experience through their networks. Furthermore, young people’s careers aspirations are changing and evolving, with many embracing their own entrepreneurial skills and how to use their voice as an influencer, goals which might not be met by the placement opportunities available.
It’s been really pleasing to see in my local area the use of professionals in schools to provide talks, enterprise sessions and mock interviews. During July one school also facilitated work experience and social action for Year 9s and Year 10s without formal work experience. This gave groups of young people opportunities to support local good causes and other projects that included local resident and visitor surveys, developing a children’s summer trail, photography and social media content, gardening, litter picking, painting and decorating, speed watch patrol, first aid workshops and intergeneration projects. This very much reminded me of some of the great social action projects that National Citizen Service delivered with hundreds and thousands of young people, making a real difference in communities across England.
Offering these types of experiences, different to formal work experience placements, provide an amazing alternative for young people who can’t gain a placement in a business setting, and for some might be even more suited to their future aspirations. Social action and community projects can provide young people with communication skills, confidence and a real sense of pride and empowerment. They will also provide invaluable examples of work for personal statements, CVs and interviews.
I believe the employability sector can better support the future of work experience for young people. Reaching out and building relationships with local schools in areas where you operate, exploring support you might be able to offer their students in work and life skills programmes. Advocating work experience placements with your employer networks and within your organisations, even if just for 1- or 2-day placements. Most importantly, providing support through giving time and expertise, including using volunteering days and supporting community social action projects with groups of students. Work experience for young people across your organisation should be a key part of our social value commitments.
Young people bring new ideas that can only benefit teams. Maybe consider setting groups of students a business challenge that you might be facing, for them to design a solution or letting them design a marketing and social media campaign and generate the content for you.
The world of work is evolving but the need for meaningful experiences to help people realise their potential is constant. With our diverse businesses and employer networks, our sector is well placed to give the next generation opportunities to succeed in the world of work, whatever they choose to do.