Careers and Employability Team Blog: November Edition

Welcome to the November Edition of the Careers and Employability Blog!

Welcome to our November Careers and Employability Blog. This month, we are highlighting the importance of work experience and how it helps learners prepare for their next steps, whether that's employment, an apprenticeship, university or further study.

Why Work Experience Matters

Work experience is an important part of your young person's college journey and plays a key role in preparing them for life after education. Whether they plan to move into employment, an apprenticeship, university, or further study, gaining real-world experience and understanding their career goals through vocational profiling helps them develop the skills, confidence, and knowledge that employers and higher education providers value.

Work Experience Requirements

Learners are expected to work towards completing at least 37 hours of work experience during their course, although the required number of hours may vary depending on their subject area. This can be achieved through a combination of external work placements and work-related activities, such as attending industry workshops, employer talks, guest lectures, careers events, and other employability-focused sessions. On 24th November, learners can attend our annual Careersfest to meet employers, build professional connections, and find out about work experience opportunities. Taking part in a range of these opportunities helps learners develop valuable workplace skills, gain insight into different career pathways, and build their confidence for future progression into employment, apprenticeships, or further study.

Finding a Placement

We encourage learners to take an active role in securing external work placements that align with their career interests and future aspirations. Undertaking a placement in a real workplace allows learners to experience their chosen industry first-hand, build professional connections, and enhance their CV and future applications.

Parents and carers can play an important role by helping learners identify potential opportunities through family contacts, local businesses, or community networks. Guidance is also available from course Tutors and the Careers and Employability Team. You can contact us using cet@weston.ac.uk.

Developing Employability Skills

One of the greatest benefits of work experience is the development of employability skills. These transferable skills are highly valued by employers and can support learners in securing future opportunities.

Through work placements and work-related activities, learners can develop:

• Communication skills
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Problem-solving abilities
• Time management
• Professionalism and workplace etiquette
• Confidence and resilience
• Organisation and planning skills
• Adaptability and initiative

These skills are essential for success in employment, apprenticeships, higher education, and everyday working life.

When Does Work Experience Take Place?

Work experience arrangements vary between courses. Some courses have dedicated work experience weeks, while others complete placements and activities throughout the academic year.

For specific information about timings and requirements, learners and parents should speak to their Course Tutor or Careers and Employability Co-ordinator, as arrangements differ depending on the curriculum area.

How Parents and Carers Can Help

Parents and carers can support learners by:

• Encouraging your young person to start searching for placements early
• Helping your young person contact potential employers
• Discussing career interests and future plans

The experience and skills gained through work experience can have a lasting impact on a learner's confidence, career readiness, and future success.

By supporting your young person to engage fully with work experience opportunities, you can help them take an important step towards achieving their future goals and becoming work-ready.

WEXplore Week: Get Ready for Work Experience!

To help learners prepare for their work experience journey, we are running WEXplore Week from 7th to 12th December. This dedicated week is designed to give learners the opportunity to explore their options, gain valuable advice, and receive support with finding and arranging their placements. We'll be running a range of activities to help learners prepare for and secure their work experience placements:

Dedicated work experience pop ups available in the Brighter Futures Hub on each campus.

Access to resources and guidance to help learners prepare. This includes CV and Cover Letter templates.

Personal Development sessions refocused around work experience.

Opportunity for learners to discuss their career interests and placement plans with the Careers and Employability Team during one-to-one sessions (where relevant).

Work experience-focused Careers Drop-In sessions.

Employer input across the week.

Curriculum sessions highlighting clear links between learners’ professional and technical development and how these skills can be applied during work experience.

Success Story: One Week of Work Experience Leads to Employment

From Work Experience to Paid Employment

Last year, one of our Travel and Tourism learners completed a one-week work experience placement at a local hotel as part of their course. During the placement, they demonstrated a positive attitude, strong communication skills, and a willingness to learn.

The experience allowed them to gain valuable insight into the hospitality industry, develop their confidence in a professional environment, and build key employability skills. Their hard work made such a positive impression that the hotel offered them a part-time job once the placement ended.

The learner is now continuing to work at the hotel alongside their college studies, gaining further industry experience while earning an income. This success story highlights how work experience can open doors, provide valuable networking opportunities, and help learners take their first steps towards a successful career.

Success Story: Performing Arts Learners Impress Employer

From Work Experience to Future Opportunities

During the October half term, a group of Performing Arts learners completed their work experience at Puxton Park, taking on the role of Halloween performers as part of the park's popular Trick or Treat Trail.

Throughout the experience, learners interacted with members of the public, stayed in character, and helped create an engaging and memorable experience for visitors. In doing so, they developed valuable employability skills including communication, teamwork, confidence, professionalism, and customer service.

The learners made such a positive impression that Puxton Park was happy to provide references for every learner who took part. The employer was also keen to continue the relationship and has expressed an interest in offering further opportunities to our Performing Arts students in the future.

This is a fantastic example of how work experience can help learners build confidence, gain industry-relevant experience, expand their professional network, and create opportunities that could support their future career journey. You can read more about their experience here: Performing Arts Students Bring Halloween Magic to Puxton Park During Work Experience | Weston College

Please contact cet@weston.ac.uk for any queries for the Careers and Employability Team. For dedicated UCAS support please use uni.help@weston.ac.uk