The Big Question - how important is work experience to the next generation?

Business Argus has asked the local business community how important they think it is to provide internships or work experience for the next generation.

Nikki Thomas, HR manager at HardingEvans Solicitors, Newport

We run a work experience programme called #TeamHE Be Inspired. It encompasses many things such as accessible entry routes and inspiring structured work experience from training contracts for law students to schemes such as Jobs Growth Wales. We recognise the importance of supporting young people from the transition from education into the world of work and believe it is not only important to provide employment but provide the skills required to build a successful career, continually challenging and motivating staff.

Ed Gooderham, director at Green & Co Accountants and Tax Advisors, Cwmbran

We realise that the biggest investment we can make in our business is in our staff, and we are proud to have achieved our Investors in People Gold Award last year. We offer all employees the opportunity for not only hands-on training, but access to courses and educational seminars on an ongoing basis, as well as regular personal development reviews to ensure they are on-track for performing and achieving to the best of their abilities. For students we provide day release, help with the cost of books, study leave and time off for sitting examinations. We find people who are training offer up fresh ideas and help to ensure our pooled knowledge is wide in scope and up-to-date in the constantly changing world of taxation and accounting. Whenever we can, we offer work experience placements to those considering a career in accountancy, several of whom have joined our team on a more permanent basis as a result.

Joe Walker, managing director of Premier Forest Products, Newport

We do take on students for work experience, and would certainly consider interns too. People make a business. As the age of our existing workforce continues to rise, it’s becoming increasingly important that we turn an eye to the future. We need to ensure we have bright, committed and energetic young people coming in at grass roots level to learn about business and our industry, so that we can ensure continuity of the right calibre going forward. To do that, we have to engage today’s school and university leavers; get them thinking about the broad range of options they have for building a career, and the best way to do that is get them in through the door and experience what we have to offer. We’ve all been through, or heard of ,the school work experience week where the poor soul is stuck in front of a photocopier for 8 hours a day – that’s no good to anyone. If we take someone in, then we want to fire their enthusiasm; they have a program to work through, showing them how our business works, every department, and we try to give them a creative project to work on too, so they feel like they’ve both learned and contributed during their time with us. It’s not always easy to do that in a busy company where resources are necessarily lean in these competitive times, but in the long run I believe giving students that positive experience may pay dividends, and I would certainly encourage other businesses to consider it if they haven’t yet done so.

Stephanie Oliver, training development officer, Convey Law, Newport

We offer a week on our work experience scheme with the aim of introducing individuals to a career in conveyancing while showcasing our revolutionary and award winning approach to conveyancing. For successful applicants, they are able to practise the skills learned in school and university and actively contribute something to the business. For us, it offers an insight into skills and knowledge of future talent as well as being able to support young people to develop an interest in our industry. Individuals will experience what it takes to be a conveyancer working in an award winning business and our hope is to inspire them to reach their potential, therefore future proofing the industry. Our gold Investors In People Award and targeted graduate recruitment drive has ensured that the programme is well structured and mentors are available to guide individuals through hands on practice as well as assisting with project work. It is important to us that they too, are able to contribute and offer a new perspective on what we do. Individuals will have the opportunity to receive business advice from Lloyd Davies, our managing director as well as feedback from their mentors which we hope will assist in their ongoing professional development. We believe this approach will offer the most engaging experience, one that benefits the individuals as well as the business and one that invests in future talent in our industry.

Scott Pearson, managing director, Newport Trasport

We offer work experience to those heading towards the final year of secondary education. This is first and foremost to ensure that the workforce of the future are able to experience what working life could be like in comparison with further education. The work experience is offered in two man departments; generally those still at school are offered office administration experience and on leaving are asked to complete a questionnaire on how we could improve the experience provided. Those who have left school and may be perusing a career in mechanical engineering are given an opportunity to work in a very busy engineering department that looks after the maintenance of PCV, LGV and HGV vehicles. The latter is found to be very important in giving an insight into an industry that they may choose in the future. These opportunities are important to young people. Many of the young adults we have employed have gone on to enjoy very successful careers within our industry, climbing the ladder to managerial level. This underlines the impotance of providing such opportunities to young adults.