Modern Work Experience offers seven flexible models - from a two-hour insight session to a sustained mentoring programme - so you can engage meaningfully with young people in a way that fits your organisation.

What is Modern Work Experience?

Modern Work Experience is about giving every young person access to progressive, high quality and multiple workplace experiences, throughout their education journey. The models suggested here give employers practical starting points for getting involved.

There are seven models, ranging from a structured workplace visit or activity day through to mentoring or a multi-stage project.

Each one is designed to be meaningful for students and manageable for you. All models can be implemented in alignment with both Gatsby Benchmarks 5 and 6, with options for taking place both on-site at workplaces or at the school/college, depending on what works best for your organisation.

Seven models. One right fit.

Whether you can offer a couple of hours or a whole term, there's a model built around your capacity.

Single Day Events

1. Workplace Visit / Insight Day

2. Activity Day

3. Workplace Safari

A structured visit to your workplace, a themed activity day, or a multi-stop tour across your teams. The lowest-commitment way to get started — and a strong first step for any employer new to work experience.

Block Placement

4. Work Experience

A student working alongside your team for a few days to a few weeks. More involved than a single-day model, but with the most sustained impact on the young person — and real value for the teams who take part.

Other Formats

5. Virtual Encounter

6. Mentoring

7. Multi-Stage Project

Remote sessions that bring your workplace to students wherever they are, one-to-one mentoring relationships, or a longer project-based challenge. Ideal if on-site visits aren't possible, or you want to go deeper.