1. Impress Communications An employer’s perspective on potential opportunities, benefits and issues for work experience at 16+

2. Impress Communications - Small to medium sized companies are the UK’s forgotten army – the CBI - 4.8 million – 60% of private sector jobs and over half of private sector turnover - Significant source of work placement - I run two

3. Impress Communications - A PR and advertising agency - A bi-monthly magazine - Each with less than 10 employees - Delivering work experience to pre and post 16 students

4. Impress Communications - Personally active in the school’s careers service via the PA - Delivering termly seminars - Biennial careers fair - Proactive work among parent body

5. Impress Communications What lessons can I pass on from my experience?

6. Impress Communications DO – prepare the student in advance.

7. Impress Communications DON’T – - over-egg the role - dismiss the local SME - underestimate the time, effort and work being incurred by the SME

8. Impress Communications DO – cultivate employer contacts.

9. Impress Communications The good, the bad and the ugly

10. Impress Communications The good - Prepared - Done their research - Know the company - Understand the +s and -s

11. Impress Communications The bad - No interest - low boredom threshold - No prior research about us, what we do and our sector - an opportunity to skive - expect too much

12. Impress Communications The ugly - No appreciation for the time and attention being given - giving nothing back - almost rude and disruptive - a sour taste in the mouth

13. Impress Communications How can you help - Provide clear advice + guidance - Cut down on paperwork + admin - Help with monitoring + evaluation - Help with the nitty-gritty – Insurance, H&S; law - Don’t pay lip service to partnership

14. Impress Communications The success of a placement relies upon an effective partnership between the employer, the work experience organiser, the school and the student.