Why work experience benefits employers

• Work experience helps young people and jobseekers develop confidence, skills, and a better understanding of the workplace.
• Employers can benefit from fresh perspectives, access to future talent, and opportunities to develop existing staff.
• Meaningful work experience can help create fairer access to employment opportunities while supporting local communities and workforce development.

July marks National Work Experience Month, a campaign that celebrates the role work experience plays in helping people prepare for work and develop the skills they need to succeed.

When discussions about work experience take place, the focus is often on the benefits for young people and people looking to enter the workforce. However, employers also have much to gain.

Providing work experience placements can help organisations connect with future employees, support their local communities, and develop the skills of their existing workforce.

Work experience opens doors

Access to quality work experience isn’t always equal.

By offering placements, employers can help remove barriers and give people valuable insights into the world of work.

For many participants, work experience is their first opportunity to understand employer expectations, develop practical skills, and explore potential career paths.

Helping people into work and finding future employees

Recruitment can be challenging, particularly in sectors facing skills shortages.

Work experience gives employers an opportunity to meet potential future employees before vacancies arise. By opening their doors to students and jobseekers, organisations can introduce people to their sector, showcase career opportunities, and help participants develop workplace skills and confidence.

Many employers see work experience as a long-term investment. The people who complete placements today may become employees, apprentices, or trainees tomorrow. By creating meaningful opportunities, employers can help people take their first steps into work while raising awareness of careers in their industry.

Fresh perspectives and new ideas

People joining a workplace through a work experience placement often bring to bear a useful sense of curiosity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn.

They may ask questions, offer different viewpoints, or highlight opportunities that existing teams have not considered.

While the main aim is to support learning, employers often find value in hearing fresh perspectives from people interacting with their business or organisation for the first time.

Supporting communities and creating opportunities

Work experience can play an important role in helping people access opportunities they might not otherwise find.

By offering opportunities openly and fairly, employers can help more people learn about different careers in their industry and gain valuable experience.

For many employers, this forms part of a wider commitment to supporting their local communities and creating opportunities for local people.

Helping people into work can have positive benefits for individuals, employers, and communities alike.

Helping staff develop new skills

The benefits of work experience extend beyond the participant.

Hosting a placement often creates opportunities for employees to develop mentoring, coaching, and leadership skills.

Supporting someone new into the workplace can help staff build confidence, strengthen communication skills, and gain experience of guiding and developing others.

For employers, work experience can therefore help existing employees grow while also helping people take their first steps towards employment.

Making work experience meaningful

The most effective placements are those that provide genuine insight into the workplace.

Giving participants opportunities to observe different roles, contribute to real projects, develop practical skills, and learn from experienced colleagues can help make placements more engaging and valuable.

For employers, offering work experience is more than a way of supporting individuals. It's an opportunity to help people gain valuable workplace experience, develop the skills of existing staff, strengthen links with local communities, and encourage more people to consider careers in their sector.

Interested in helping young people and jobseekers gain valuable workplace experience?

Find out how the Jobs Guarantee in the Greater Manchester offers fully funded placements to help employers create meaningful opportunities, develop future employees, and strengthen their workforce. Visit the Jobs Guarantee page to learn more.

The Growth Company

The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise with a 35-year history of enabling growth, creating jobs, and improving lives. We help people and businesses to develop, grow, and succeed through a range of employment, skills, and business support services. We provide employment, justice, and health services across the North of England and beyond.

Learn more about the Employer Services that we offer.