Why Get Involved? - Case Studies
Work Experience - Why get involved?
We recognise that it can be daunting for a company to consider taking on a work experience student. The most common concern is that there won't be enough work for someone to do. However, mixing some routine work with a project can be the ideal way of making the placement more rewarding for the student whilst benefiting the company at the same time.DPD Distribution, based in Thatcham, took their first work experience student in October. Ray Sneezum, HR Manager, comments:
"We set our student the challenge of looking at how our employee suggestion scheme could be improved. As he worked with different people in the company he asked lots of questions and, at the end of the week, presented his findings and recommendations to us. The student designed an eye catching poster to publicise the scheme and we adopted it straight away".
Other organisations use work experience as an opportunity for motivating their staff and as a team building activity.
Cathy Skull, Store Manager at WHSmith in Newbury, sees enormous benefit to both students and her team:
"We take on students of all abilities and offer them work in a retail environment from merchandising and stock control to dealing with customers.
Our team enjoys the opportunity to train, help and support the students giving them the opportunity to try out new skills. They take great satisfaction from seeing a student complete a job to a high standard based on the training and support they have given them.
We also look upon the students as potential employees. I have taken on a number of students over the years who came to us on work experience - they have the advantage that they already know what to expect and have developed some of the skills they need."
If you are interested in finding out more about how you can get involved in work experience please call Claire Price on 01635 279903 or email clairep@ebpwb.co.uk. We are happy to talk to you about how to structure a placement to make the experience beneficial to both your business and the student.