Work experience and work placements
Southern Co-op supports all individuals regardless of their diversity and we’re passionate about encouraging young people into the workplace to gain valuable work experience to help them in their future careers. We have a robust programme to ensure their time with us is beneficial and helps them gain confidence, learn new skills, develop their customer service and work as part of a team. We hope to place 100 work experience students per academic year.
The majority of work experience placements are aimed at Year 10 school students, however placements are open to college students as well. T Levels are new two-year courses which are taken after GCSEs and are broadly equivalent in size to three A Levels. They are aimed at preparing students for entry into skilled employment, or an apprenticeship or related technical study through further or higher education.
T Levels offer students practical and knowledge-based learning at a school or college with on-the-job experience through an industry placement of at least 315 hours – approximately 45 days. We are working closely with the local college – Havant and South Downs College (HSDC) and have accommodated three T Level students in Head Office. The students are gaining work experience in the office for one day a week, and are given a variety of roles to ensure they get a true feel for the business environment.
In recent months we have been approached by individuals who may be Neurodiverse, or organisations who support individuals who do not cope well in a standard interview process. We have found that once in the workplace these individuals prove to be committed, dedicated and reliable colleagues.
To help support these individuals into the workplace we offer short or extended work placements, guided by the organisations placing the individual. Some may only want a few hours a week and some who are more confident or have experienced work previously could opt for one day a week for a period of six weeks. A successful outcome might be to offer the individual a permanent role or we may just fulfil the work experience they needed. We hope to place 50 of these work placements by 2024, with one third being offered permanent roles with Southern Co-op.
