Opening your doors to students isn’t just good for young people – it’s good for your business too.
By welcoming students into your workplace, you help bridge the gap between education and employment and inspire the next generation. But it can also deliver real business returns.
Employers who offer work experience are 77% more likely to report business benefits such as a stronger talent pipeline. For those offering a wide range of experiences – such as job shadowing or T-Levels, that figure rises to 90% (The Careers & Enterprise Company. The Business Case for Work Experience: Employer Standards 2024/25).
With recent changes to work experience guidelines, where students are expected to have workplace experiences throughout their secondary school years, there are now many flexible options on what you could offer. Whether it’s a half-day visit, a hands-on project or part-time job shadowing over a number of weeks, there has never been a better time to get involved.
What you gain by offering work experience
Engaging with young people through work experience gives you the chance to showcase your sector and career pathways to the next generation. You’ll be building meaningful relationships with local schools and colleges, contributing to developing future talent in your industry and influencing curriculum relevance – helping educators understand what employers actually need.
Why this matters for your business
Access to future talent
Early engagement helps students who may never have considered your industry to see your sector as a viable career path. The students you host today could be your apprentices, graduates or employees tomorrow.
Shape the workforce
You have a direct opportunity to influence what skills young people develop – and to help them understand what employers actually need from day one.
Flexibility reduces barriers
Work experience no longer has to mean a full week’s placement. Shorter visits, project briefs, workplace tours, or placements spread across the year make it far more manageable – especially for smaller businesses or those with fluctuating capacity.
Supporting local communities
Hosting students – particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds – helps young people access opportunities beyond their immediate networks. The impact can be profound and lasting.
Ready to get involved?
Whether you can offer a two-hour visit, a project brief or a longer placement, there’s a format that works for your business. If you want to explore providing work experience, Surrey Careers Hub is here to support you.
Complete our form to express your interest, and we’ll arrange a short consultation to understand your business, capacity and what would work best for you. Together, we’ll help you design a programme that suits your circumstances and industry.
Through our work experience matching platform CareerThread, you can connect with schools and students whose interests align with your sector.
Get started today. Complete our contact form or visit Surrey Careers Hub to find out how to take the first step.
