Work experience pays off: Surrey businesses invited to try a new flexible approach

Gone are the days of the traditional five-day placement. New Government guidelines around work experience mean employers can now offer placements that fit around the realities of modern business.

As part of wider efforts to grow the regional economy and promote local employment opportunities, Surrey County Council is now launching a campaign to encourage small and medium businesses to provide a work experience opportunity that works for them.

Options range from half-day site visits and workplace safaris to hands-on projects and hybrid block placements spread across weeks rather than days.

It’s being drive by the Surrey Careers Hub, which is jointly-funded by the council and The Careers & Enterprise Company to connect employers with schools and college to inspire Surrey’s future workforce.

Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: "Work experience is often seen as something businesses do for young people - but the evidence tells a different story. When employers open their doors, they gain access to fresh thinking, motivated talent and a direct way to shape the skills their sector needs. The new flexible formats mean there's now a genuine option for every business, whatever your size or capacity.

“We’re hoping to get businesses on board from across many different sectors, as Surrey's economic future depends on having the right skills in the right places. Businesses that invest in young people now aren't just doing good - they're helping build the workforce that will drive our county's growth."

The move comes as research from The Careers & Enterprise Company's Employer Standards 2024/25 reveals that businesses engaging with work experience are 77% more likely to report tangible business benefits including a stronger talent pipeline. That figure rises to 90% among employers offering a broader range of experiences, including T-Levels and job shadowing.

Opportunities on offer to Surrey businesses include shorter site visits, which can welcome groups of students for guided tours, demonstrations and Q&A sessions with staff - giving young people a real window into a sector with minimal disruption to the working day.

For businesses based on enterprise parks or industrial estates, workplace safaris offer a collaborative option: partnering with two to four neighbouring employers to host students for 30 to 45 minutes each, sharing the load while giving students a richer, multi-business experience.

For employers wanting deeper engagement, block placements have been redesigned for flexibility. Students can attend on consecutive days, one day a week over a month, or through a hybrid mix of in-person and virtual.

Hands-on project briefs go further still, setting students a real business challenge - a marketing campaign, a sustainability proposal, a new piece of website content - with students presenting their findings to the team and receiving professional feedback.

AtkinsRéalis is an engineering firm which works with Surrey Careers Hub to provide work experience to Surrey students.

Ellie Smith, Social Value Consultant at AtkinsRéalis, said: “The new modern work experience system has made it much easier for us to connect with young people in a meaningful and flexible way. Our virtual work experience programme works particularly well because it removes barriers around travel and scheduling, enabling students to take part and gain real insight into the world of work.

“We’ve found that project‑based work experience and insight days are especially effective, as they allow students to work on real‑world challenges and develop tangible skills while gaining a clearer understanding of the careers available in our sector. It’s been a really successful model for us, and we’re seeing genuine curiosity, confidence, and capability grow in the young people who take part.”

To find out how your business can get involved, email [email protected] or visit https://www.businesssurrey.co.uk/workforce/the-future-of-work-experience/