A new government-backed initiative is urging small businesses across the United Kingdom to provide work experience opportunities for young people aged 14 to 16, as part of a national target to create 200,000 additional placements.
The campaign, called Open Your Door, is being led by Small Business Britain, with support from Enterprise Nation, the British Chambers of Commerce, Family Business UK and the ScaleUp Institute.
Its target is for small businesses to commit to providing 50,000 of the proposed 200,000 placements. The initiative forms part of the government’s wider National Mission on Work Experience, announced in September to improve practical learning and prepare teenagers for employment.
Prime Minister Urges Businesses to Give Young People a Chance
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the campaign was intended to give young people access to opportunities that could help them take their first steps into employment.
He said too many young people had been dismissed before having the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities, adding that even a few days in a workplace could help them gain experience, confidence and a better understanding of employment.
Burnham called on small businesses, particularly those operating in local communities and high streets, to participate. He also said companies did not need dedicated human resources departments to offer placements and that support would be available to help them take part.
Flexible Placements Designed for Smaller Companies
The initiative allows pupils in Years 10 and 11 to organise their work experience days more flexibly, rather than following the traditional two-week placement with a single employer.
Under the arrangement, teenagers could spend shorter periods at different businesses, giving them the opportunity to experience several working environments.
For example, a pupil could spend time at a café and an accountancy firm before visiting a retailer and a digital marketing agency during the same five-day period.
The approach is intended to expose young people to a wider range of careers while reducing the amount of time any individual small business needs to commit.
Businesses to Receive Practical Support
Small businesses participating in Open Your Door will have access to guidance and resources to help them arrange placements and identify suitable candidates.
The support will include toolkits, practical advice from experts and assistance with finding young people interested in work experience.
Companies will not be required to have an existing placement programme or a large HR department. The campaign says businesses can contribute by hosting even one young person for a few days.
The initiative comes as the government increases its efforts to help more young people access education, training and employment. It also precedes Alan Milburn’s review into young people and work.
Small Business Britain Highlights Community Benefits
Michelle Ovens CBE, founder and chief executive of Small Business Britain, said smaller companies often provide young people with their first opportunity to experience working life.
She said traditional work experience arrangements had frequently been designed around larger organisations with the staff and resources to manage placements.
Ovens said small businesses should also be able to take on motivated young people without needing dedicated HR teams. She added that even a placement lasting a few days could provide significant value to pupils and their communities.
She said the campaign would help businesses feel supported in offering opportunities and allow young people to explore their interests while gaining experience in local workplaces.
Small Business Britain said it hoped the initiative would encourage more companies to participate and generate success stories from the placements.
