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Work Experience — Information for Parents & Carers


Work experience is more than a week away from the classroom — it's a stepping stone to your child's career. At DN Colleges Group, we provide fully supported, meaningful placements that build confidence, develop real skills, and help young people discover what they're truly passionate about.

3000 +
Students complete placements annually
98 %
Say it helped clarify their career goals
500 +
Employer partners
100 %
Placement support provided

Why Work Experience Matters

Research consistently shows that young people with work experience are more likely to secure employment and feel confident about their career choices. Here's what your child will gain.

Real-world skills

From communication and teamwork to problem-solving and time management — your child will develop transferable skills that employers actively look for.

Career clarity

Experiencing a workplace first-hand helps young people understand what they enjoy, what they're good at, and whether a career path is right for them.

Confidence boost

Stepping into an adult environment and succeeding builds self-belief. Many students return from placements noticeably more confident and motivated.

Stronger applications

Universities and employers value work experience highly. Your child will have real examples to draw on for personal statements, CVs, and interviews.

Industry connections

Many placements lead to ongoing relationships — mentoring, references, part-time work, or even apprenticeship and job offers after college.

Academic motivation

Seeing how classroom learning applies in real workplaces often reignites motivation. Students frequently return with renewed focus on their studies.

Your Child Is in Safe Hands

We understand that trusting your child to a workplace environment is a big step. That's why we have rigorous processes in place to ensure every placement is safe, supportive, and worthwhile.

Employer Selection

Every employer we work with is thoroughly checked. We verify insurance, conduct risk assessments, and ensure appropriate supervision is in place before any student arrives.

DBS-Checked Supervisors

Workplace supervisors undergo enhanced DBS checks where required, and we ensure your child will never be left unsupervised in inappropriate situations.

Dedicated Support Team

Our Work Experience Coordinators stay in regular contact with students during their placement. If any concerns arise, we're just a phone call away.

Open Communication

We keep parents informed throughout the process. You'll know where your child is placed, who their supervisor is, and how to contact us with any questions.

How Work Experience Works

From initial matching to placement completion, here's what to expect.

1

Preparation & Matching

We work with your child to understand their interests and career aspirations, then match them with a suitable employer from our network.

2

Placement Approval

Once matched, we complete all necessary checks and paperwork. You'll receive confirmation of the placement details before it begins.

3

The Placement

Your child spends time in a real workplace, shadowing professionals, completing tasks, and gaining hands-on experience.

4

Reflection & Next Steps

After the placement, we help your child reflect on what they've learned and how it shapes their future plans, whether that's university, an apprenticeship, or employment.

Types of Work Experience

Most students

Standard Placements

  • Matched to your child's study area
  • Full support from college
  • Ideal for exploring a career
  • Builds CV and experience
  • Counts towards course hours
T-Level students

Industry Placements

  • Substantial placement as a core part of the qualification
  • Extended real-world experience with employers
  • Arranged with support from Work Placement Officers
  • Counts towards students' T Level qualifications
  • Structured learning objectives with regular reviews
Selected programmes

Extended Placements

  • Substantial placement as a core part of your qualification
  • Extended real-world experience with employers
  • Counts towards your overall qualification
  • Structured learning objectives with regular reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

Work experience is carefully timed to complement, not disrupt, your child’s learning. For most courses, it’s built into the timetable. T Level students complete extended placements as a core part of their qualification. Teachers and tutors are aware of placement dates and will support your child with any catch-up needed.

That’s completely normal, and one of the best reasons to do work experience!

We can arrange exploratory placements or offer taster experiences across different sectors. Many students discover new interests they hadn’t considered.

Yes, if they have a specific employer in mind. We call these “own find” placements. We’ll still need to complete our standard checks to ensure the placement is safe and suitable, so please get in touch early if this applies.

Standard placements typically follow normal business hours (e.g., 9am–5pm), though this varies by employer. We ensure hours are appropriate for your child’s age and in line with regulations around young workers.

No. Work experience placements are free. For international opportunities through the Turing Scheme, travel, accommodation, and subsistence are fully funded.

Our Work Experience team monitors all placements and is available throughout. If any issues arise — whether it’s a concern about safety, workload, or just feeling unsure — your child can contact us immediately. We take all concerns seriously and will intervene if needed.

Encourage them to treat it like a real job: arrive on time, dress appropriately, ask questions, and show enthusiasm. Talk to them each day about what they’re learning. Your interest and support makes a real difference to their confidence.

Have Questions? We’re Here to Help

Our Work Experience team is happy to answer any questions you have about placements, safeguarding, or how we support your child.

Contact Us: Work Experience
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