How employers can offer work experience
Offer placements with confidence
Offering work experience placements does not have to be complicated. With Futures For All and the Work Experience Finder, employers can register for free, create placements and connect directly with schools and students across the UK.
Whether you are offering a short Insight Day or a multi-day placement, our platform and support team make the process simple and manageable.
Your step-by-step guide to getting started
01
Register for free
Start by creating your employer account on the Work Experience Finder. Once signed up you can access all of our helpful tools and guidance to upload your placements.
02
Create a placement
Add role details, duration, learning outcomes and expectations so students understand what they will gain.
03
Match with applications
Students apply through the platform. Applications are reviewed by teachers before reaching you, helping streamline the process.
04
Confirm and prepare
Select students and prepare structured activities to ensure a meaningful experience.
05
Deliver and reflect
Provide real insight, guidance and feedback to maximise impact for both your organisation and the student.
Your step-by-step guide to getting started
01 Register for free
Start by creating your employer account on the Work Experience Finder. Once signed up you can access all of our helpful tools and guidance to upload your placements.
02 Create a placement
Add role details, duration, learning outcomes and expectations so students understand what they will gain.
03 Match with applications
Students apply through the platform. Applications are reviewed by teachers before reaching you, helping streamline the process.
04 Confirm and prepare
Select students and prepare structured activities to ensure a meaningful experience.
05 Deliver and reflect
Provide real insight, guidance and feedback to maximise impact for both your organisation and the student.
Types of work placements employers can offer
Not every work placement needs to look the same. The type of placement you offer can depend on your business, the skills students want to learn, and how much time you can commit. Understanding the different options makes it easier to create opportunities that are meaningful for both students and your organisation. Offering flexible options makes it easier for more young people to access work experience while allowing your organisation to manage capacity effectively.
Shorter placements
Placements don’t have to be a long-term commitment, a few days to a week and give students a quick introduction to your organisation. They are ideal for helping students explore different roles and get a snapshot into the industry.
Longer placements
Placements that last two or more weeks allow students to take on more responsibility and gain a deeper understanding of how your business operates.
Project-based tasks
Project-based tasks give students something tangible to work on. These tasks help students learn new skills and achieve real results during their placement, making the experience more engaging and educational.
Shadowing opportunities
Shadowing as part of a placement lets students follow team members and learn by witnessing their work. This is especially useful in roles where hands-on tasks may be limited, as it gives students insights into the realities of the job.
Remote or hybrid placements
Remote or hybrid placements allow students to take part in work experience either online or with a mix of in-person and virtual activities. This format is particularly helpful for students who cannot travel easily or prefer flexible arrangements.
The support employers can receive
Futures For All makes hosting students straightforward by providing guidance and resources every step of the way. This support helps employers feel confident when offering work experience placements and ensures students have a positive and meaningful experience.
Guidance on compliance and safeguarding
Employers receive clear advice on all legal and safeguarding requirements, including risk assessments, insurance considerations, and supervision standards. This guidance ensures students are safe, properly supported, and that your business meets the expectations of schools, parents, and regulatory bodies.
Resources for managing students
Futures For All provides practical resources to help you manage students throughout their placement. This includes advice on structuring tasks, tracking progress, giving constructive feedback, and handling common challenges.
Templates and work placement agreements
To simplify the administrative side, ready-to-use templates are provided for agreements between your business, the student, and the school. This includes placement schedules, learning objectives, and responsibilities for all parties.
Dedicated support contact
A dedicated point of contact is available to answer questions and provide ongoing advice. Whether it’s guidance on onboarding a student, adjusting tasks, or resolving issues during the placement, support is always within reach. This makes it easier for employers to host work experience confidently and ensures students have a smooth, enjoyable experience.
Ready to offer work experience?
Offering work experience is one of the most practical ways to influence the future workforce while strengthening your organisation today. Together, we can open doors for young people who might otherwise miss out on meaningful experiences.
Join Futures For All and list your placements for free on the Work Experience Finder.
Quick answers to FAQs
What companies offer work experience and in what industries?
We work with 100s of employers, including the BBC, National Trust, Spotify, Bentley Motors, Boots, the NHS and many other high-profile companies. We offer work experience from a wide range of career types which means we are able to offer placements in Creative & Media Arts, Tech, Science & Engineering, Environment & Infrastructure, Sports, Travel & Hospitality, Business, Finance & Retail, and Law, Care & Community, as well as many more specific industries.
When browsing the list of available opportunities on our website, you can filter your search by career cluster and industry. We update these opportunities every week throughout the year, so if you can't find a placement to match your exact requirements, keep checking to make sure you don't miss out on any new work experience placements!
Does work experience interfere with exams?
Exams are a crucial part of school life, and we understand that students in key exam years are already extremely busy with revision and exam timetables. We work closely with our employers to ensure that we offer a wide selection of placements for all key year groups throughout the year, so that students sitting final exams are still able to participate at other points throughout the academic year.
What are the benefits of remote work experience?
Remote Work Experience removes the geographical and cost barriers that may prevent young people from participating in work experience. It allows young people from anywhere in the UK to access a broad range of opportunities with employers from industries that may not be well-represented in their local area and it provides young people with the chance to take part in multiple opportunities to really explore their options.
All online work experience placements offered by Futures For All offer are employer-led and are hosted in a secure online setting so that young people can safely attend live presentations, participate in interactive and collaborative real-time tasks and activities, and ‘meet’ working professionals from the employer’s organisation. All multi-day remote work experience placements offered by Futures For All meet Gatsby Benchmarks 5 and 6, and our shorter sessions meet Gatsby Benchmark 5.
How do we safeguard our virtual broadcasts
Futures For All is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all users, whether that is in a classroom, workplace environment, or in a remote setting. Access the full Safeguarding Policy Statement here.
Why is work experience important?
Work experience provides a way for young people to build their skills, expand their networks, and explore the world of careers while still in education. Our research shows that doing work experience while in education increases a young person's future annual earnings and improves their employability.
Who is work experience for?
At Futures For All, we offer work experience placements for young people aged 14-19, not just school leavers or a particular year group. In order to give students and schools and colleges maximum flexibility, we also run placements throughout the year.
Year 10 and Year 12 are great times to consider doing work experience to help the young person make more informed decisions about what comes next in their life plan and to help build their confidence as they start to explore future careers. Work experience is a valuable addition to a young person's CV or personal statement and can be especially helpful as supporting evidence for a university application, a job application, or an apprenticeship application.
We are mindful that there is a lot of pressure on students in the build-up to their exams, however, we offer convenient options for work experience that can fit with even the busiest study schedules. Students can apply and take part in work experience at any point in the academic year provided that their school/college supports their participation.
We also support schools with introductory, bite-sized 3-5-hour Insight Days that take place in class time and include guided activities, and short, virtual 1-hour career talks.