The 1000 Club: Making Work Experience Work for You

Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership (THEBP) is a charity established in 1991 and are now celebrating 25 years. The company aims to raise the aspirations and understanding of the world of work and different opportunities to young people. This is done by brokering links between businesses in the City and Canary Wharf and the schools in Tower Hamlets.

Currently THEBP work with 63 primary schools and 15 secondary schools within in the borough of Tower Hamlets and have forged strong links and connections with all the schools. They offer many volunteering opportunities from one off commitments, to regular weekly commitments like Reading and Number Partners.

Alongside all of the above programmes they place around 3000 Tower Hamlets Students on work experience each year.

Identified by THEBP:

According to the British Chambers of Commerce, 76% of businesses say that lack of work experience is the reason why young people are unprepared for work. However, only 48% of businesses actually offer placements, with those within the city predominantly at SME’s (Small/Medium Employers).

In Tower Hamlets alone, 1 in 4 young people will be unemployed when they leave school. Currently 39% of children in the Borough are living in poverty, the highest level in the UK. There is entrenched inter-generational unemployment and a lack of access to opportunities in the thriving City and Canary Wharf economies.

THEBP’s Resolution:

In December 2014 THEBP launched the 750 club which had an initiative to get 750 students into corporate work experience placements, as there was a huge gap in that particular sector.

Following on from its success, this year they have increased it to 1000 corporate work placements, including 100 placements in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) organisations. There is a growing and urgent need for more STEM professionals in the UK, and this is going to increase rapidly over the next 7 years. It is vital that all students are well prepared to access these roles seeing as*:

• 2.56 million Engineering jobs have been forecast between 2012 and 2022.
• 42% of employers are currently having difficulties in recruiting STEM-skilled employees.
• Only 17% of technology workers are female, but high consumers of technology.
• 46% of Key Stage 2 students say a STEM subject is their favourite subject.

How Employers Can Help:

THEBP is inviting senior business leaders to join the 1000 Club. The dedicated work experience team manages all aspects of the process from arranging placements, preparing students and completing paperwork; leaving employers to enjoy the experience.

How A Work Experience Placement Works:

• Meet to discuss the work experience process.
• Agree the dates of the placement with the work experience team. Most placements are for 14-16 year old students, although there is an increasing demand for those aged between 16-18. The placements are for one or two weeks during school term times depending on the school.
• Organise a Health and Safety visit at your work place to be able to draw up a job description for the student. This usually only takes 30 minutes and will then be valid for all future placements for Tower Hamlets students for four years.
• Inform your organisation’s insurance company about the placement and if applicable complete their risk assessment. For most insurers this is a standard process with minimal work.
• Set learning goals and tasks for the student during the placement. Daily activities and longer project suggestions for the students to undertake are also available. This experience will also help develop management skills in staff.
• Interview over the phone or meet with the student prior to the placement starting.
• Enjoy hosting the student(s). We will ask for your organisation’s feedback on the experience once the placement is complete.

Also note that:

• Supervisors do not need any child protection training or certificates.
• No official work experience policy is required from the employer.
• Work experience is unpaid and employers are not obliged to cover travel or lunch costs.

Last years impact report can be found here: bit.ly/1QSoAww. If you can offer any help by joining the 1000 Club or for more information please contact:

Sophie Ripsher
Assistant Manager – Preparation for Work Experience Team
Telephone: 020 7655 0300
Email: Sophie.Ripsher@thebp.co.uk

*www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-level-stem-skills-requirements-in-the-uk-labour-market

We are an independent charity that supports the education, training and development of young people by forming mutually beneficial partnerships between businesses and schools.

Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership
First Floor, Norvin House
45-55 Commercial Street
London
E1 6BD

This release was published on openPR.