Work Experience at King Ecgbert School

22nd June 2023

King Ecgbert School, founding school in Mercia Learning Trust, plans to formalise and expand Work Experience opportunities for our students next academic year (2023-24).

We are seeking the support of Chamber members to secure a commitment to offer our 14-17 year old students placements. In order to assist some students with securing placements, it is necessary to build up a network of employers who would be able to offer work experience placements.

Work Experience at King Ecgbert School is likely to take the form of one week each for 2 year groups of students. There is scope to offer a variety of formats of placements in line with the changing dynamics of workplaces in the city.

Employers can benefit in several ways from offering school work experience placements for a week. Here are some key advantages:

Talent pipeline: School work experience placements allow employers to identify and engage with potential future talent. 

Employer branding: Offering work experience placements demonstrates a company's commitment to investing in the development of young people and supporting their local community. 

Skill development: Work experience placements offer students a chance to apply academic knowledge to real-world scenarios. 

Fresh perspectives: Bringing in young students with diverse backgrounds and experiences can infuse new ideas and fresh perspectives into the workplace. Students often bring a different lens to problem-solving, technology usage, and workplace dynamics. 

Employee engagement: Involving current employees in mentoring or supervising students during work experience placements can boost their engagement and job satisfaction. 

Corporate social responsibility: Participating in school work experience placements demonstrates an organisation's commitment to social responsibility. 

Recruitment insights: Work experience placements provide employers with an opportunity to assess potential future hires in a low-risk environment.