Employer Room

Employers – we need you!!

If you are able and willing to support Careers events we hold in whatever shape they take – please contact our Careers Adviser Ms. Sally Linsell   Email. s.linsell@ksn.org.uk

An example of ways you could support us are as follows:

• Mock interviews
• Industry talks
• Masterclasses
• Careers Fairs
• Speed Careers events
• Work experience placements
• Attend breakfast meetings.

Likewise, in return we will happily promote your apprenticeships/job opps. We will mention you in our newsletter and any other medium of publicity we will use. (with your permission of course)

Additional information about providing Work Experience placements from the UK Government Health and Safety Executive.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/youngpeople/workexperience/placeprovide.htm

Work experience

Introducing students to the world of work can help them understand the work environment, choose future careers or prepare for employment. It can take the form of a short, or longer, placement with a placement provider (employer) where they will have the opportunity to observe and practice work tasks.       

But work placement arrangements are too often seen as over-bureaucratic and burdensome, putting off potential employers. We must tackle this and stop over-interpretation of the law. 

The effectiveness of the employer's risk management arrangements is what matters. Employers should already be managing the risks in their workplaces and are best placed to assess whether or not they need to do anything additional for a new young person joining them.

Schools and colleges, or those organising placements, should simply ask sensible questions, in proportion to the level of risk, to satisfy themselves that those arrangements are in place.

They should not be second-guessing employers' risk assessments or requiring additional paperwork. 

An appreciation of risk and how to deal with it can be one of the biggest benefits offered by a placement. We need young people (those under 18) to be offered opportunities to develop new skills and gain experience across the world of work.

Judith Hackitt
Chair
Health and Safety Executive
 

Cutting through the bureaucracy

Taking on work experience students is easy.

Many employers have considerable experience of successfully employing young people or taking on work experience students.

If an employer has never employed a young person (under 18) before, there are just a few steps that they need to take.

Schools and colleges or others organising placements need to check the employer has risk management arrangements in place. Conversations between the placement organiser and the employer could simply be noted for reference.

If you are advised to do something contrary to, or that goes beyond, this guidance, you can question this by contacting HSE's HSE's Myth Buster Challenge Panel.

Taking on work experience students should be straightforward for placement providers (employers). It should not be about generating unnecessary paperwork. This guidance cuts through the bureaucracy that some say stops them offering young people this vital knowledge and experience.

Following the guidance means those involved in employing young people for work or work experience will be doing what the law requires.

These pages describe how to keep it simple.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/youngpeople/workexperience/placeprovide.htm