A Scalable Model for Work Experience: Broadening Access in Partnership with Career Hubs

A New Approach for Scalable Work Experience

Too many young people in state education miss out on high-quality work experience. At Futures For All, we’re determined to change that – and one way we’re making an impact is through bespoke work experience with Careers Hubs across England. Our partnership with Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub helps address local barriers for access – and provides a scalable model for meaningful work experience from region to region.

Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub 

In 2026, two hybrid work experience programmes were delivered at University Academy Holbeach in South Holland and Baysgarth School in North Lincolnshire – two different areas of the county. Each programme engaged an entire year group of Year 9 students simultaneously, as multiple employers delivered work experience across different classrooms at the same time. 386 students participated across both schools, with 31% of students in receipt of Free School Meals – higher than national average.

The programmes aimed to:

• raise awareness and challenge assumptions about careers 

• increase students' exposure to employers, industries and workplace skills 

• help young people connect what they learn in the classroom to real jobs in their local area 

• reduce the traditional barriers for work experience of time, transport and logistics 

• make participation more accessible and efficient for schools and employers alike 

Employers were fully supported to plan in line with Gatsby Benchmarks and our Quality Assurance Framework, ensuring a high-quality meaningful experience for all young people. 

Inside the Work Experience 

Each school took part in multiple 2-day employer-led placements – with remote delivery (online) for Day 1, and in-person (in-school) for Day 2. Sessions connected young people with industry professionals and explored careers through talks, Q&As, and practical hands‑on, skills‑based activities, including a final project. These final projects were rooted in real-world challenges, giving students the opportunity to step into different roles and develop key workplace skills. 

“It has been a really successful two days. The students really enjoyed it and delivered some great presentations. They definitely enjoyed having the employers in school.”

Educator, University Academy Holbeach

Our new hybrid model shows how businesses can engage with young people at scale – without the usual barriers. 

Thank you to all of the employers that delivered work experience as part of the programme: 

• Café Allez 

• Willmott Dixon 

• DFDS 

• Ellgia 

• Future Biogas

• Lincolnshire Co-op 

• Nelipak 

• OLG UK 

• Outer Dowsing

Impact in Action

Overall, Lincolnshire Careers Hub funded a successful programme of interactive, engaging and impactful opportunities for young people, reducing barriers and instilling confidence for their next steps.

Career awareness and next steps

75% of students said the work experience helped them learn about careers and pathways.

63% of young people said they were interested in a job within the employers’ organisation or sector following their placement an increase of 19 percentage points from pre-placement.

“I learnt a lot about different job ideas I might want to take one day in the future.”

Outer Dowsing attendee, Holbeach 

“I learned things you can't find in books… I made valuable connections in the industry.”

Willmott Dixon attendee, Holbeach

Skills development 

Through the placement, the top skills developed were: 

• Team-work – 77% students reported improvement 

• Creativity – 72% students reported improvement 

• Speaking, listening, problem-solving skills and adaptability – 66% students reported improvement 

  
  

Local landscape

By working with schools in two contrasting areas of Lincolnshire, the programme demonstrated its relevance across different local contexts, highlighting its potential to address place-based barriers to career development and aspiration in a range of regions.

“For those in rural and coastal areas, work experience placements are even harder to come by, thanks in part to a narrower selection of industries on their doorstep and a lack of public transportation options. It was therefore a pleasure for Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind to take part in this pilot and bring work experience into the school. Initiatives like this will help prepare the young people of Lincolnshire to take advantage of the thousands of skilled, well‑paid jobs forecast to be created by the offshore wind industry in coming years.”

Jenny Marsden, Communications and Stakeholder Manager, Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind

Meaningful Work Experience at Scale 

While hybrid placements already offer an innovative approach to work experience, the Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub model shows how work experience can continue to be adapted and reimagined to broaden access.

“This hybrid programme by Futures For All is a great example of how large groups of students can take part successfully in an engaging, introductory experience of the workplace.”

Sophie Bullivant, Work Experience Coordinator, Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub

Delivery at this scale helps to ensure employers reach more young talent in an efficient and flexible way while more young people gain experiences that prepare them for careers, including those that may have been previously closed to them – even those in their county.

Next Steps

This success of the programme means Futures For All now has a tried-and-tested model that can support Careers Hubs across the UK to offer meaningful work experience for local young people – a repeatable, low-friction approach balancing employer input with flexible delivery.

If you’re a Careers Hub and are interested in delivering a Year 9 work experience programme or would like to arrange a call to discuss your local needs and how we can tailor a bespoke offer for your region, please contact Jessica.hart@futuresforall.org for more information.

* Image source: Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub