Fewer businesses offer in-person opportunities compared to virtual, as it requires more work for them, but some businesses including the ones below do organise in-person work experience opportunities that they advertise and you can apply directly to.
If none of these interest you, you can also sort out your own in-person work experience. Either as part of your school's work experience week if you have one, or during the holidays.
If you want to know more about organising your own work experience in a particular area of work, have a read of this article.
Remember, if you plan on accessing any opportunities, make sure a responsible adult (a teacher and/or parent/carer) knows about the placement and the employer has suitable safeguarding in place.
Top Tip
For some small employers, asking for a week’s work experience upfront will sound like too much and you might get a ‘no’ straight away. Instead, try asking for a day, or for a lunchtime chat over zoom or in the office. This will give them the opportunity to meet you and for you to see whether you would like to spend longer with them and if so, persuade them you will be a help not a hindrance!
Brighton Grand Hotel
The Brighton Grand Hotel offers work experience working in one of their operational departments, including kitchen, food and beverage service, front of house, and the spa. After your week with them you'll be presented with a certificate of skills completion. Click here to download a pdf of their information leaflet.
EY
EY offers Careers Starters, a two day programme for year 12s in their Assurance, Tax or Turnaround and Restructuring Strategy departments and Smart Futures, a ten month programme for year 12s including paid work experience.
HSBC Bank
HSBC runs a one-week UK work experience programme for students looking for a placement within a banking environment. The work experience programme provides opportunities to gain some hands-on experience, develop your knowledge of banking and financial services, and explore the careers available at HSBC in the UK. You should note that this is an unpaid work experience programme. To find out more click here.
HSBC have also produced a booklet explaining the various work experience and apprenticeship routes you can take to gain experience at the bank. To download it click here.
KPMG - Accounting and Corporate Finance
KPMG programmes are an opportunity for Year 13 students to gain professional work experience, get an insight into their diverse teams and explore the variety of career opportunities on offer. They have opportunities in Audit, Consulting, Business, Tax and Technology and Engineering for students with black heritage, plus a Discovery Work Experience for all others wishing to fast track their career into working at KPMG. To find out more click here.
Penguin Random House - Publishing
Penguin runs year-round paid work experience slots of two weeks, where you’d be shadowing a team and getting to grips with day-to-day life in publishing. It’s a learning opportunity – a chance to learn about the world of work and go behind the scenes. To find out about the various career roles within publishing click here. To find out about their work experience opportunities click here.
Various Employers in East Sussex
If you’re an East Sussex student then there are a number of employers taking part in the Open Doors initiative to give you hands-on experience and involvement. Ask a teacher at school to get in touch here.
