Work Experience

Research has shown that work experience plays a crucial role in helping young people understand the world of work and develop the skills (particularly ‘soft’ skills), knowledge and attitude that employers value.

Presently the one week work experience placement is held in the final year of compulsory education (usually S4). Work experience usually involves:

• One week work placement with an employer
• Preparation and debrief of pupils, dependent on individual schools
• Opportunity to develop dispositions, skills and capabilities in context of a wide range of experiences offered in the workplace

There are considerable benefits to businesses in becoming involved as a provider of placements, such as:

• Improved skills among employees e.g. interpersonal and interview skills
• Enhanced relevant skills for the next generation of employees and entrepreneurs
• Improved employee motivation by developing skills through engaging and working with young people
• Greater awareness in young people of job/career opportunities in your company, industry or sector
• Enhanced company image/Corporate Social Responsibility
• Better understanding amongst staff and employers of current developments in school education
• Promotion of your company to potential employees and customers

The Chamber is always keen to encourage members to become placement providers as we feel the benefits substantially outweigh any cost in terms of time and effort. You should be aware that there are a number of health and safety, legal and insurance responsibilities, but that these are not especially onerous and can be discussed in more detail by contacting Linda Clinton in East Renfrewshire Council’s Education Department at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

A Research Report on Work Experience in Scotland, commissioned by the Scottish Government, found that “self-found placements” account for 30% of all work experience placements nationally. Realising that this is directly related to socio-economic circumstance, the Chamber understands that some 80% of placements in East Renfrewshire are self-found placements. Although these self-found placements are a critical source of opportunities, releasing much-needed resources to source placements for those not able to find placements through such routes as family contacts, this raises issues of equity for those pupils not able to take advantage of parental contacts, perhaps in pockets of deprivation to be found all across the Authority area. Linked to this, there are specific issues concerning work experience for those pupils at most risk of becoming Not In Employment Education or Training (NEET) when they leave school, or, to use the Scottish Government’s parlance, those ‘in need of more choices and chances’. These pupils might be disillusioned with education, face limited job opportunities where they live, their parents and grandparents may have never been employed. The link between education and employment is often not understood or appreciated fully in these circumstances, and these pupils and their families may have particularly low expectations or esteem.

It is statistically shown that those pupils who might benefit the most from a work placement are those most likely to miss out. This might be because of behavioural issues, or whatever. But these young people are most at risk of falling through the gap. Not only is this a potentially tragic waste of potential, but the cost to the state (and thus our taxes) of supporting these young people, perhaps throughout their lives, is considerable.

The Chamber would like to see this trend reversed.

So we would be especially keen to hear from employers who are keen to ‘go the extra mile’ and think about providing and hosting work placements for young people needing more choices and chances. You can discuss this fully by contacting Linda Clinton in East Renfrewshire Council’s Education Department at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Additionally there are those young people who are in need of support because of very specific challenges. Perhaps they face coping with learning difficulties or physical disabilities. They may already have left mainstream or special education and hoping to gain work experience and enter the labour market. Very often these young people will thrive with a supported placement in the workplace, and sufficient understanding. If you would like to discuss in detail whether you might be able to provide a placement for a young person with additional support needs then please contact Alex Wood, Employment and Training Offer at the Council’s Economic Development Department on 0141 577 3754 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .