Work Experience

The Switch have been providing Work Experience placements for students in Tower Hamlets for over 30 years to provide real life experiences of the world of work and to broaden career aspirations. We help young people see the wealth of opportunities beyond school and help tackle the poverty of aspiration in our area.

After a 2-year break due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, our Work Experience programme returned to the borough where 6 schools, 817 students and 155 employers took part. The pause of the programme significantly impacted the skills development of young people in Tower Hamlets, in its return we focused on placements from 11 sectors, from retail to health and social care to business and finance – this ensured every student could find a meaningful and worthwhile placement in their desired industry.

Our Work Experience programme supports students in finding placements in their preferred industry and prepares them for their placement. We provide guidance to companies on hosting a Work Experience student, as well as ongoing support throughout.

Invest in your future workforce by hosting a Work Experience placement and support students to develop their employability skills, which are invaluable in making informed education and career decisions as well as attaining fulfilling employment. Together we can bridge the gap between education and the world of work to empower young people to discover their best future.

School Year Confirmed Dates
St Paul's Way Trust Year 10 27th - 31st January
Central Foundation Girls' School (Health and Social Care) Year 12 3rd - 7th February
Central Foundation Girls' School (Health and Social Care) Year 12 10th - 14th February
Central Foundation Girls' School (Health and Social Care) Year 12 24th - 28th March
Mulberry Stepney Green Year 10 24th - 28th March
London Enterprise Academy Year 10 28th April - 2nd May
Bow School Year 12 23rd - 27th June
Bow School Year 10 30th June - 4th July
St Paul's Way Trust Year 12 14th - 18th July

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Why host Work Experience?

  • Build a new and diverse talent pipeline
  • Help schools provide exceptional careers guidance and achieve Gatsby Benchmark 5 & 6
  • Support your local community and CSR agenda
  • Raise aspirations and build better futures for young people
  • Work with a charity who has a proven track record for excellent value
  • Provide meaningful opportunities for your company to give back to the community

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Contact Us

If you would like to host work experience, please contact the team below:

Phone: 020 4591 0999

Email: Work.Experience@theswitch.org

Work Experience Impact Report 2022-23

I learnt how to be more independent and hard-working in the work environment. I also learnt how to take responsibility for myself and manage time properly.

Student, Bishop Challoner Girls' School, placed at RedCat Digital

The student exceeded my expectations. He was a great fit for our organisation. He asked the right questions, had very good knowledge and demonstrated our company values.

Employer, Computacentre

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