WorkPlus

No! We want the most valuable thing you can bring...your time and expertise!

The school will be in contact with the relevant work experience paperwork. You can read about the role/responsibilities of the employer prior to and during work experience here - https://www.eani.org.uk/work-experience-arrangements.

Employer:

EA recommends that schools should consider Access NI checks for the employer in all of the following cases:

(a) Students identified by the school as vulnerable for educational, medical, behavioural or home circumstance reasons.

(b) Students on placements where these involve:

• regular lone working with an employer over long periods (for example, anything over half a day at a time);

• placements located in particularly isolated environments; and

• placements involving a high degree of travelling.

If a placement falls into one of the above categories it does not necessarily mean that an Access NI check is required. The decision will depend on an assessment of the overall potential risks posed to a young person and will take into account any systems in place to minimise these risks.

Absolutely! We have an employer workshop on in November to help you prepare and learn from other employers.

That's fine. We don't want you to overstretch. Every work experience place is priceless!

That's ok. You can specify a minimum age to ensure that you get the right match.

Yes!

No. When you use the sign-up link, you’ll be asked to select which opportunities your organisation can provide. Even if it’s just one insight day or a multi-day placement for a mainstream pupil, it will still make a real difference to young people in Antrim and Newtownabbey. You can choose to be involved in just one aspect or all three – it’s completely up to you!

Workplus will support you every step of the way. You’ll be paired with an appropriate pupil or group who has an interest in your industry or role. Workplus will connect you directly with the school so you can discuss how to provide a meaningful experience while accommodating the pupils’ different needs. You’ll also receive a simple toolkit document to help you plan what to do before, during, and after the placement.

That’s ok, make sure your teacher is aware that you are arranging your work experience separately.

1. Read about all the opportunities and register your interest to the opportunities you think you would like to consider as a career.

2. This can be a good opportunity to confirm or rule out a future career, so if you are on the fence about an opportunity, why not give it a go? At least you will find out either way if it's a career for you!

3. Make sure you research the employer before you register your interest, especially the location. There is no point applying to an opportunity that you cannot get a lift/public transport to.

Opportunities will appear on this page on the 19th January.

Once the opportunities are live on this page, you can follow the links to view them and register your interest in the ones you like. Your teacher will need to log in to approve your registration—this will then give them the employer’s contact details to pass on to you.

After that, it is your responsibility to contact the employer to ask for a work experience placement.

When you contact an employer, make sure you include:

• Your name

• Your school

• The dates of your work experience

• Why you would like to do your placement with them

Employers receive a lot of requests, so it’s important that your message is polite, clear, and helps you stand out.

Important: Registering your interest on the work experience website does not guarantee a placement. You must contact the employer and they must agree to take you.

It is up to you to arrange transport to the employer’s office/site.  Please do not apply for an opportunity before you are sure you can get there during the work experience. 

We would encourage you to read through a number of opportunities to find one that is the best fit for your interests.  However, if you really cannot find anything, you may have to talk to your teacher about making alternative arrangements. 

Once an employer has confirmed a space with the pupil, it will be the school's responsibility to take care of the paperwork in line with their normal work experience process.  

Teachers must log in to approve a registration of interest after considering whether the opportunity is a good fit for the pupil and confirming that travel can be arranged if the placement goes ahead.

Once a teacher confirms the registration, the employer’s contact details will be visible.

Teachers can then pass these contact details to the student, who must contact the employer directly.

Please note: this site is designed to connect students with employers. A work experience placement is not guaranteed until the employer confirms it with the student/school.

Opportunities close on Wednesday 30th April

Any paperwork will be completed in line with the school’s processes.

Once a placement is confirmed, the teacher must log in to confirm this on the platform.

After the work experience has taken place, the teacher must log in again to confirm attendance on the platform.

Workplus will follow up with a post-evaluation survey.

Yes, pupils can make alternative arrangements outside of this initiative, however please encourage pupils to read through a number of different opportunities to see if one fits their interests before they make their decision to look elsewhere. 

You can reach out to Workplus here.

Accept cookies and then contact us via our chat at the bottom of the screen.

Opportunities will appear on this page on the 19 January