This week we have an update for you on the governments vision to deliver 2 weeks’ of work experience for every young person. Linked to this, as many of you are already aware we are in the process of collating information on current work experience provision in the schools and colleges in or hub which will help inform national policy as well as the support that we offer locally. If you have not yet completed your experience of the workplace survey already please get in touch asap to organise a time to do this. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to have your voice heard!
We also have some LMI resources and facts to help you support parents and young people to understand and use labour market information, some upcoming CPD opportunities, info on 4YP’s Career Adviser CPD group and a great video from GATSBY highlighting the impact a whole school approach can have on the aspirations, achievement and career readiness of their students, one to share with governors, leaders and staff.
Modern Work Experience – the governments vision to deliver two weeks’ of work experience for every young person (by the end of KS4)
- Ambition to deliver 2 week’s worth of work experience for every young person with a focus on multiple, targeted and variable workplace experience totalling 10 days
- Expect work experience to be pivotal in improving work readiness and employability
- Experiences should be aspirational and inspirational, employer led, first hand and active (two way employer-pupil interaction)
Expected to be broken down into a weeks’ worth years 7-9 & a further weeks’ worth years 10 – 11.
- Years 7-9 – Multiple and varied employer-led activities (individual or group, supplementing in person with hybrid or virtual experience, where this can add value) to explore different industries and occupations in line with Gatsby Benchmark 6
- Year 10 – 11 – Work experience placement(s) totalling one weeks’ worth in an industry matched to young people’s interests and career aspirations. This should allow pupils to experience a real working environment and begin to develop work-based skills and behaviors
- As a reminder the updated benchmarks give a clear definitions of meaningful. Benchmark 6, specifications below
- a clear purpose, which is shared with the employer and the young person
- be underpinned by learning outcomes that are appropriate to the needs of the young person
- involve extensive two-way interactions between the young person and employees
- include opportunities for young people to meet a range of different people from the workplace
- include opportunities for young people to perform a task set by the employer or to produce a piece of work relevant to that workplace
- include the employer providing feedback to the young person about their work
- be followed by opportunities for the young person to reflect on the insights, knowledge or skills gained through their experience
- Indicative policy timeline
- November 24 – launch Gatsby next 10 report
- Spring 25 – updated statutory guidance
- September 25 statutory guidance implemented
- Spring 26 (provisional) – statutory guidance update – work experience expectation for school
- September 26 (provisional) – statutory guidance update implemented
- Careers Hubs will be supporting schools throughout with CPD opportunities, tools and resources such as Equalex, ILR’s, FSQ and the Careers & Enterprise Academy.
- Theme 5 of the the ILR (internal leadership review) focuses on encounters with employers/employees and experiences of the workplace (Benchmarks 5 and 6) and completing this will inform strategic planning for implementation.
Take a look at our Equalex slide deck here which gives examples of delivery models and modern work experience through the eyes of a learner. We will be covering this this in more detail at our summer career leader network meetings
- Bedford Borough – 13/05/25
- Central Bedford – 16/05/25
- Luton – 09/06/25
- MK – 05/06/25
- North Northants – 13/05/25
- West Northants – 22/05/25
Careers Advisers – free CPD Group – please share with you careers adviser
4YP, specialists in career guidance, facilitates a Careers Guidance community group for all career advisers/coaches working with young people in the south midlands area.
Our Spring term meeting was held in January, where we explored factors influencing vocational decision making. We talked about the various and numerous factors prevalent amongst our young people today, and how this ties in with career development theories.
These meetings are about bringing careers advisers together, sharing best practice, supporting each other and providing a *free* CPD top-up! If you are a Careers Adviser working 1:1 with students, and would like to join us for our next virtual meeting after Easter, please email info@4ypuk.com
LMI Resources
The updated Gatsby Benchmarks require schools and colleges to support both students and parents at all key stages to understand and use LMI. This week we are sharing a couple of ways you could do this. If you have any impactful LMI resources or activities please share careershub@southmidlands.org.uk
London Luton Airport Key Stage 3 Resources
London Luton Airport have just launched a new digital workshop for key stage 3 students, which they have developed in partnership with Skills Builder. There are three teacher-led workshops available, for students in years 7, 8 & 9. They are a great local, labour market resource for schools to use with their students to highlight the range of careers and opportunities available within an airport and wider aviation sector.
Link to download the resources here.
Hospitality Sector in MK
Please see below a quiz and some key facts about Milton Keynes and the hospitality sector created by our Careers Coordinator Mandy Browning that could be used to raise awareness of both the area and the sector with both students and parents.
Quiz
1 What percentage of the UK workforce works in hospitality? A 10% of the UK workforce currently works in hospitality which is 3.5 million people
2 What do you think are the top three skills needed for a job in this industry? A Top 3 skills needed are communication, teamwork and customer service
3 How many unique roles are there within an average fully serviced hotel A There are 50 different, unique roles within an average fully serviced hotel
4 How many people in Milton Keynes work in hospitality? A 13,600 people currently work across 359 hospitality businesses in MK
5 6 Nationally how much does the hospitality contribute to the UK economy A Hospitality Industry contributes £93 billion to the UK economy
Key facts
National
- 10% of the UK workforce currently works in hospitality which is 3.5 million people
- 91% of hospitality businesses report challenges with recruitment and the sector carries a bigger skills gap than any other priority sector (by the Business London survey last year.)
- Hospitality Industry contributes £93 billion to the UK economy
- There are 45 apprenticeship standards in hospitality (for ages 16 and 18+)
- There are 50 different, unique roles within an average fully serviced hotel
- Top 3 skills needed are communication, teamwork and customer service
Local
- 13,600 people currently work across 359 hospitality businesses in MK
- Milton Keynes has the highest visitor spend of all UK cities and ranks number 1 for retail spends by overnight visitors!
- Milton Keynes attracts around twice as many visitors as you would expect for its size – putting us in line with Brighton and Edinburgh
Mapping out the employers on your doorstep
The Careers Team at The Stockwood Park Academy have had the brilliant idea of posting a huge map in their office, highlighting all the different businesses and organisations in surrounding area and what careers students can go in to, helping student to understand and use LMI
Upcoming CPD Opportunities
ARU Teacher and Advisor Conference – April 2024
This is your chance to come visit us for the day and take part in various sessions, designed to support you in your role as a Teacher/Advisor to post-16 students. The conference is FREE TO ATTEND.
We are running 3 conferences across our campuses and the dates are:
- Tuesday 29th April 2025 – Cambridge
- Wednesday 30th April 2025 – Chelmsford
- Wednesday 7th May 2025 – Peterborough
The conference will run from 9am – 3pm on each of the days. You only need to book on to one conference as the sessions at each will be the same.
Lunch will be provided.
Some of the sessions will include Degree Apprenticeships, Student Finance, the new Personal Statements format and much more!
The event is FREE and lunch will be provided to all delegates attending on the day. Spaces are limited so book early to avoid disappointment. Register Here
If you have any questions please contact Louise Newley, Schools and Colleges Engagement Officer, louise.newley@aru.ac.uk.
LinkedIn for Educators – Free workshop Tuesday 18th March 15.45
Want to help your students succeed beyond the classroom?
Looking for an easy way to build a network of inspiring career speakers and work experience opportunities?
Join us for 40 minutes of FREE, practical advice on how to use LinkedIn to support your students, strengthen your school community, and develop your own professional brand.
What You’ll Learn:
✅ How to keep in touch with ex-students and turn them into valuable career speakers & mentors.
✅ The 3 essentials that make a LinkedIn profile stand out.
✅ FREE tools to help students and educators create professional profiles.
✅ How students can use LinkedIn as a powerful Personal Branding tool.
✅ How to grow and develop your network.
✅ Step-by-step guidance on setting up and utilising your school’s Alumni page.
And think of all the connections you could make! ✨
Sign up here🚀