Bridging Education & Employment at National Scale
National Work Experience Month is the UK's bold new national initiative — mobilising employers, colleges and careers leaders across the country every July to deliver structured, meaningful workplace experiences for young people.
From good intentions to structured delivery
National Work Experience Month has been created to address the persistent gap in meaningful work experience for young people across the UK. Jointly led by National Careers Week and EmployabilityUK, and delivered within the framework of National Employability Week, the initiative builds on decades of collective expertise.
The model is designed to move work experience from fragmented activity to coordinated participation — from anecdote to measurable outcomes. It provides a simple national framework for delivering high-quality work experience at scale throughout July each year.
Education Providers
Schools, sixth forms, FE colleges and training providers act as delivery anchors — expanding access to employer engagement for their students.
Employers & Industry
Provide sector insight days, workplace challenges, supervised activities, and placements — with full support and structured brokerage.
Young People
Participate in structured experiences, interact with employers, apply skills in practice and build confidence for the world of work.
Structured work experience delivers
one of the strongest social returns
in the youth sector
By converting careers inspiration into real workplace application, the initiative strengthens progression into apprenticeships, employment and further training — particularly for disadvantaged young people and those furthest from opportunity.
From inspiration to application
to progression
Together, the partnership creates a coherent national progression pathway — moving young people through connected stages rather than isolated interventions.
National Careers Week
Reaching over 2 million learners annually, NCW sparks curiosity about career pathways and inspires young people to consider their future options.
National Work Experience Month
Throughout July, young people move from inspiration to action — gaining hands-on, structured workplace experiences with real employers across the UK.
National Employability Week
The UK's largest coordinated spotlight on employability systems showcases impact, celebrates progress and drives lasting reform of workforce transition infrastructure.
A revolutionary alliance
Five of the UK's leading education, employer and careers organisations — united by one shared mission to build a stronger, fairer and more future-ready workforce.
EmployabilityUK
An award-winning national charity dedicated to improving outcomes for disadvantaged young people by embedding employability skills within education and employer systems.
National Careers Week
The largest celebration of careers pathways in Europe, reaching over 2 million learners annually across the UK to spark ambition and awareness.
Association of Colleges
Representing 200+ further education colleges and training providers — the backbone of technical education and workforce preparation across the UK.
Association of Education Business Professionals
A coordinated national network of regional Education Business Partnership hubs providing structured employer brokerage and engagement support.
The Edge Foundation
Championing practical and vocational learning, bringing expertise in high quality work experience and a long-standing belief in its power to change lives.
Built to deliver at national scale from day one.
Hear from our founding partners
Each year NCW reaches over 2 million learners across the UK as the largest celebration of careers pathways in Europe. Nothing prepares learners for the world of work better than gaining experience of real tasks and working operations. This is a very exciting step.
Work experience only works when it is designed as infrastructure — not activity. National Work Experience Month builds on careers inspiration by embedding real workplace application within structured progression pathways. This is how we build a future workforce — not just exposure.
Employer engagement works best when it is structured and supported. This model strengthens brokerage, consistency and reach — making it easier for employers to open their doors and make a real difference.
Children tell us time and again that they want to experience work and technical education before they leave school. Both have the power to inspire and motivate children to work harder in school, achieve better results and support them to progress into learning and ultimately work that fulfils them. That's why I am delighted to see FE Colleges playing their part in this drive for more and better work experience.
At Edge, we've long believed in the power of high quality work experience to give young people an insight into different careers, help them develop their skills and see the relevance of their learning — put simply great work experience changes lives. We support this major new initiative from great partners to radically increase the availability of work experience opportunities to help the next generation of young people to get ready for the world of work.
Become a Founding Delivery Partner
Education providers are invited to become early partners in National Work Experience Month and help shape a coordinated national approach to meaningful work experience. Early adopters will have the opportunity to:
- Help shape the national model and pilot relevant programmes
- Develop regional partnerships with employers and industry
- Showcase best practice through National Employability Week
- Contribute to the development of a lasting national framework