Modern Work Experience

Modern Work Experience is transforming how young people connect with the world of work. It moves beyond the traditional, one‑week placement and instead offers a flexible, progressive model that gives every learner access to high‑quality, meaningful experiences throughout their education.

This new approach helps young people develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need for the future workforce, while giving employers greater flexibility and more ways to engage.

What is modern work experience?

Modern work experience provides multiple, structured and inclusive opportunities for young people to explore different workplaces over the period of Years 7-11 rather than through a single block placement. It is designed to ensure:

Access to high‑quality, multiple workplace experiences throughout secondary education
A minimum of 10 days’ worth of meaningful experiences across Years 7-11, aligned with updated Gatsby Benchmark 6 and the Government’s Work Experience Guarantee
Equitable participation so that every learner, regardless of background and network connections, can take part
Experiences that are employer‑led, varied and connected to clear learning outcomes

To learn more about how work experience is changing nationally, read The Career & Enterprise Company's (CEC) guide:
What is modern work experience? | The Careers and Enterprise Company

Why modern work experience matters

Modern Work Experience supports young people to:

Develop essential employability skills
Gain insight into a broad range of sectors and job roles
Build confidence in making future career decisions
Understand how curriculum learning connects to industry
Form meaningful relationships with employers

It supports a progressive, high‑quality approach that begins early and builds throughout secondary school, giving young people repeated, varied exposure to the workplace. By Year 11, students should have accessed a broad set of workplace experiences, enabling them to clarify their career interests and preferred industries and progress into sustained, meaningful destinations.

How it works

Modern Work Experience can include a wide range of activities, giving businesses and schools flexibility to design experiences that suit them. Examples include:

Group site visits and workplace safaris (short rotations across several employers)
Employer‑led projects or challenges
Hybrid or in‑person block placements across days or weeks
Virtual or blended placements, supporting wider participation and accessibility
Shadowing or short immersive experiences

The model can be adapted to different ages, learning needs and local opportunities.

The equalex framework

Modern Work Experience is underpinned by equalex, the national framework developed by The Careers & Enterprise Company. It ensures experiences are:

High‑quality and structured
Designed with clear learning outcomes
Inclusive and equitable
Developed through a whole‑school approach

equalex plays a central role in supporting the national ambition for every young person to have 10 days’ worth of modern work experience.

Learn more about the solution to work experience: Modern Work Experience | The Careers and Enterprise Company

Benefits for employers

Employers report significant benefits from offering modern work experience:

Stronger talent pipeline – employers engaging with work experience are 77% more likely to report business benefits, rising to 90% for those offering a wider range of experiences
Increased visibility of their business to future talent
Opportunities for staff to develop mentoring and leadership skills
Improved workplace culture and morale
Opportunities to address skills gaps and showcase career pathways

Flexible formats mean organisations of all sizes, from SMEs to large employers, can take part in a way that fits their operations