Offering Work Experience: A Practical Guide for Berkshire Employers

Most Berkshire businesses that host a student for work experience do it once, see the value, and keep doing it. Here’s what’s involved, what it costs (very little), and what your business gets back.

Why bother?

Three reasons come up again and again. First, recruitment: work experience and placements are an extended, low-risk look at potential future hires — many employers convert placement students into part-time staff or apprentices they already know can do the job. Second, capacity: a T Level placement student is with you for 45+ days, long enough to do genuinely useful work. Third, community: local employers who invest in young people build a reputation that customers and future applicants notice.

What it involves

Less than most employers expect. You’ll need to provide a named supervisor, a short induction, and meaningful tasks — not a week of shredding. For students on college-arranged placements, the college typically handles paperwork, insurance questions and safeguarding checks, and stays in contact throughout. Employers’ liability insurance almost always already covers work experience students; a call to your insurer confirms it.

What it costs

Short work experience and T Level placements are typically unpaid, so the cost is supervision time. Some employers cover travel or lunch, which students notice and appreciate. Part-time roles and apprenticeships are paid normally — the apprentice minimum is £8.00 an hour from April 2026, though many local employers pay more to attract stronger applicants.

Hosting under-18s: the basics

You don’t normally need DBS checks for staff supervising work experience students, provided supervision isn’t one-to-one unsupervised contact. You do need a quick risk-assessment review with young people in mind — colleges provide templates. Working hours are capped for under-18s and they can’t do certain high-risk tasks; again, the college will tell you exactly what applies to your workplace.

How to make it work well

Plan the first morning properly — a tour, introductions, and a clear first task set the tone. Give real work with visible output. Check in daily, even for five minutes. And at the end, give honest feedback and offer to be a reference; it costs nothing and means a great deal.

Ready to try it?

Posting an opportunity on Valueplacement is free and takes about five minutes, and your listing reaches further education students across Berkshire actively looking for work experience, placements, part-time work and apprenticeships. Post an opportunity via our employer registration page, or contact us with questions.