Interested in Offering a Young Person Work Experience? Here’s How…
25 October 2024

Did you know that across Highland 40% of our school leavers go straight into employment when leaving school? Gaining some real work experience is vital to help young people try a career area or sector and to develop their skills before entering the workplace. This is only possible if work experience is on offer – and that’s where you could come in.
Work experience no longer happens during that fixed week in May but can be undertaken at a time to suit the employer and the young person, e.g. a day a week, for a week or as part of a qualification. Some young people undertake extended work placements up to 4 days per week with potential future employers.
If you’d like to find out more about how you could provide a work experience opportunity, contact us at info@dywich.co.uk
or Work.Experience@highland.gov.uk.
You we will be taken through a Job Card, which is simply a job description of what you are able to offer a young person. Many businesses can offer more than one job card; for example a construction firm might be able to offer, Labourer, Business Admin, Surveyor etc.
Once this is received the Highland Council’s Work Placement Coordinator will assign a Workplace Assessor to come out and visit. They need to check Employer Liability Insurance and that risk assessments are in place to support an inexperienced employee. This check normally takes under 1 hour to complete.
Once complete, the details get added to Hi-hope, the Highland Council’s work placement directory where young people can search for opportunities. Once approved, which normally takes a couple of weeks, young people can apply for work placements, and arrangements are made through the school to allow this to be undertaken. Young people doing a work placement are encouraged to maintain a log and gain certification for the experience, so they may ask you to help with some evidence.
Many companies find their future talent through offering these opportunities so it’s definitely worth considering for your business. If you’re not sure, please let’s have a conversation!