MODERN WORK EXPERIENCE IN SOUTH YORKSHIRE
Supporting schools, colleges and employers to deliver high-quality workplace experiences for every young person.
The government has set an ambition for every young person to benefit from high-quality work experience during secondary education.
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and the South Yorkshire Careers Hub work in partnership with The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) to support schools and employers to deliver Modern Work Experience across the region.
What is Modern Work Experience
Modern Work Experience gives every young person access to a range of meaningful workplace experiences throughout their education journey, helping them develop skills, confidence and career awareness over time rather than through a single placement alone. Rather than the traditional one-week model, it aims to provide the equivalent of 10 days of high-quality workplace experiences spread across secondary education through a flexible and inclusive approach supported by the EqualEx framework.
| Traditional Work Experience | Educators Modern Work Experience |
|---|---|
| 1 or 2 week block placement | 10 days worth of experiences across secondary |
| Limited exposure to one workplace | Allows students to see a wide range of careers |
| Dependant on personal connections | More inclusive and flexible |
| Menial tasks | More meaningful experiences |
| Limited flexibility | Co-designed with employers around school curriculum |
| 1 student per placement | Aligned to students interests and national growth sectors |
The Equalex Framework
Equalex is a flexible framework developed by The Careers & Enterprise Company, which is made up of three themes of learning outcomes and objectives to support the delivery of Modern Work Experience. It helps schools and employers create a range of high-quality workplace experiences that are inclusive, meaningful and accessible to all young people.
The three themes of Equalex, which are progressive and span secondary educationThe Careers and Enterprise Company videos below can help with inspiration on how to get started, whatever phase you are in.
Phase 1 - Introduce & Inspire
Phase 2 – Investigate & Explore
Phase 3 – Apply & Demonstrate
Benefits of Modern Work Experience
Modern Work Experience helps bring learning to life by giving young people meaningful opportunities to see first-hand what different jobs and industries are like, while helping schools and employers build stronger connections with their local communities.
| Employers | Schools, Colleges & Students |
|---|---|
| Build relationships with future talent and inspire the next generation. | Gain exposure to a wider range of sectors, pathways and industries. |
| Offer flexible experiences that suit business size, sector and capacity. | Deliver meaningful employer engagement that supports Gatsby Benchmark 6. |
| Create long-term partnerships with schools and colleges across South Yorkshire. | Connect classroom learning to real-world careers and future opportunities. |
| Strengthen community impact, social value and employer brand. | Develop confidence, employability skills and workplace awareness. |
Click on the links below to access practical resources for employers, planning tools for schools and colleges, or to see examples of South Yorkshire pilot and national case studies.
Have a question or need support?
Whether you're a school or college looking to strengthen your programme or an employer interested in getting involved, the South Yorkshire Careers Hub team is here to help.
Izzy Kidder
Workplace Experience and Engagement Coordinator: izzy.kidder@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk
South Yorkshire Careers Hub
Find out more about our support and opportunities to get involved, or contact us at careershub@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk
