Safeguarding

Last updated: May 2026

Our Commitment

The safety and wellbeing of every young person who uses Valueplacement is our highest priority. Valueplacement was founded by a further education teacher and we understand the responsibility that comes with connecting young people — including those with additional learning needs and SEND diagnoses — with employers and organisations.

We are committed to maintaining a platform that is safe, honest and transparent.

What We Do

Every employer-submitted listing is reviewed by us before it goes live. We check that the opportunity is genuine, that the organisation appears to be a legitimate and established employer or charity, and that the listing is appropriate for students aged 16 and over.

We do not publish listings that we consider unsuitable and we reserve the right to remove any listing at any time without notice.

Our Role and Its Limits

Valueplacement is an advertising platform. We connect students with vetted employers — we are not a placement agency, a safeguarding body or an employer. Once a student leaves our site to contact an employer directly, we are not present and cannot be responsible for what happens.

We do not share student personal data with employers. Students contact employers directly through the details published in each listing. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

The responsibility for a student’s safety ultimately rests with the student, their family and their educational institution. We take our part of that responsibility seriously, but we want to be honest and clear about where our role ends.

Our Strong Advice to Students

Before applying for any opportunity or making contact with any employer listed on this site, we strongly advise every student to take the following steps:

Tell a trusted adult — speak to a parent, carer, teacher or college tutor about the opportunity before you apply or make contact
Seek guidance from your college — your tutor, work experience coordinator or safeguarding officer can advise whether an opportunity is suitable and safe for you specifically
Never attend alone — for any interview or workplace visit, always tell someone where you are going, who you are meeting and when you expect to return
Trust your instincts — if anything feels wrong or makes you uncomfortable at any stage, stop and speak to a trusted adult immediately
Protect your personal information — never share your bank details, National Insurance number, passport or other sensitive documents with a prospective employer unless you have received a formal written offer and your college has confirmed the placement is legitimate

Warning Signs to Watch For

Be cautious of any opportunity or employer that:

Asks you to work completely alone with no supervision or induction
Asks you to pay for training, equipment or a uniform before you start
Has no clear address, phone number or verifiable online presence
Puts pressure on you to start immediately without a proper introduction or agreement
Asks for sensitive personal or financial information before a formal offer has been made

If you notice any of these signs, do not proceed. Contact your college safeguarding team and let us know at bothwell.jones@valueplacement.co.uk.

If You Have a Concern

If anything about an opportunity or an employer contact makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable, please:

Tell your college safeguarding lead or a trusted teacher as soon as possible
Contact us at bothwell.jones@valueplacement.co.uk — we will investigate and remove any listing of concern promptly
Call 999 in any emergency
Contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 (free, available 24 hours)
Young people can contact Childline on 0800 1111 (free, for under 19s)

For Parents and Carers

We encourage parents and carers to browse Valueplacement with their young person. Your involvement makes a real difference. If you have any concerns about a specific listing or about the platform in general, please contact us and we will respond promptly.

For Colleges and Tutors

We actively encourage colleges to use Valueplacement alongside their own work experience and careers programmes. If you would like to discuss the platform, flag a specific listing or raise a safeguarding concern, please contact us at bothwell.jones@valueplacement.co.uk. We will always respond to safeguarding-related enquiries within one working day.

Key Contacts

Valueplacement safeguarding enquiries: bothwell.jones@valueplacement.co.uk
Emergency services: 999
NSPCC helpline: 0808 800 5000 (free, 24 hours)
Childline: 0800 1111 (free, for under 19s)