Support your organisational approach to work experience placements - including internships
Work experience is an umbrella term which covers lots of different ways that people can be given opportunities to learn directly about working life, develop employability skills and gain exposure to a working environment.
It can vary from short in-person placements to virtual programmes or mid- to long-term internships. Work experience can be a talent pipeline for organisations and an early career pathway for individuals.
While work experience is often associated with young people (and specific considerations when engaging this group are covered in the guide), it is not limited to young people. Graduates, career changers and individuals re-entering the workforce after a period of absence may also benefit from these opportunities.
For people professionals, it is important to advocate for the work experience approach that best suits organisational needs.
The guide includes a focus on internships, to reflect their growing use as part of early talent strategies, and due to the higher legal, ethical and reputational risks they present (compared to short-term work experience placements).
For the purpose of this guide, all forms of work experience will be referred to as 'placements’ unless otherwise stated.
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