How to Find Work Experience at 16 in Berkshire: A Practical Guide

If you’re 16 and studying at a college in Berkshire, work experience is one of the most valuable things you can add to your CV — and one of the hardest things to find if nobody shows you where to look. This guide covers what counts as work experience, where to find it locally, and how to ask for it.

Why work experience matters at 16

Employers consistently say they value attitude and experience over grades alone. A one or two week placement shows you can turn up on time, follow instructions, and work with people outside your school circle. It also helps you rule careers in or out before you commit to a course or apprenticeship — finding out you don’t enjoy something is just as useful as finding out you do.

What counts as work experience?

More than you might think. Short placements shadowing someone in a workplace, longer structured placements that form part of your course, volunteering at a charity shop or community event, part-time weekend work, and school-organised insight days all count. When an employer asks about experience, they want evidence you’ve been in a real working environment — any of these qualifies.

Where to look in Berkshire

Start close to home. Reading, Slough, Bracknell, Newbury, Maidenhead and Wokingham all have active local employers who take on young people — from major companies along the M4 corridor to independent shops, salons, garages and care providers in every town.

Your best routes are: your college’s work experience coordinator, who often has standing relationships with local employers; local job boards like Valueplacement that list verified work experience, placements and volunteering across Berkshire specifically for further education students; and direct approaches — a short, polite email to a local business explaining who you are, what you’re studying and what you’re hoping to learn.

How to ask an employer directly

Keep it short and specific. Say who you are, what course you’re on, what dates you’re available, and why their business interests you. One paragraph is enough. Follow up once after a week if you don’t hear back — persistence is noticed, pestering is not. If you’re nervous, ask your tutor to look over your message before you send it.

What to expect on a placement

Most work experience at 16 is unpaid (structured placements that are part of your course are covered by your college’s arrangements). You should expect an induction, a named person supervising you, and real tasks — not just making tea. If anything feels unsafe or wrong, tell your college straight away. Employers hosting under-18s have legal responsibilities for your safety, and good ones take them seriously.

Make it count afterwards

Write down what you did within a day or two of finishing — specific tasks, tools you used, anything you were praised for. That detail is what turns “I did a week at a garage” into a CV line that gets interviews. Ask your supervisor if they’d be a reference; most will say yes if you showed up and tried.

Ready to start looking? Browse live work experience and placement opportunities across Berkshire on Valueplacement — it’s free and you don’t need an account.