Hi, I’m Chris and I am the Connexions Adviser for Children in Care and I want to know about your plans for your Year 10 work experience placement.
You may already have some clear ideas or have discussed it with your carers or school Connexions Adviser or teacher. We want to be sure every Year 10 student has a good quality work experience placement in Year 10 as it is a great way to find out more about a job or career, and an opportunity to work alongside adults in the world of work. You need to start looking for a placement as early as possible in the year to ensure you find somewhere that you really want.
Some people in the Council have offered us placements and I know lots of other places so if you want some help please let me know. You can read about some of last year’s Council placements below.
You can phone or text me on 07717 816836 or e mail me at chris.hart@bristol.gov.uk
I will need to know your name, telephone number, e mail address and school.
If you have ideas for your Year 10 work experience but have not been able to find a placement. Let me know what you want.
If you don’t know what you want to do ring me or speak to your Connexions advisor.
Bristol City Council (BCC) Placements - Examples:
1. Communication and Marketing
This was a very successful placement that has been used two years running. The young people were involved in reporting and helping with articles for various council publications.
2. Construction
The contracts manager for Landlord Services, provided placements with experience in the construction industry, helping young people try out carpentry as well as painting and decorating. The BCC colleagues in this service were very supportive and understanding of the range of needs of the young people.
3. Business Support and Administration
One young person took the opportunity to work alongside the Chief Executive’s PA and the PA for the Director of Children’s Services. This placement provided an insight into the workings of the council at senior level.
4. Extended Schools Service
One young person worked alongside colleagues in a variety of roles, e.g. administration, sports leadership, community activities and planning.
One Year 11 student took part in extended work experience in the City Museum. She experienced working on the front desk welcoming visitors and archiving, as well as in the preparation for staff recruitment and selection processes. This student gained confidence and knowledge of working in a customer focussed environment and has now started a college course in travel and tourism. She also now volunteers at the MShed.
A care leaver who has completed an introductory legal executive course at City of Bristol College, gained two weeks’ work experience in the Bristol City Council legal department. This opportunity widened her knowledge of how legal teams work across all aspects of the law, that the council are involved in. She has now returned to college to continue her studies and intends to go on to higher education. At the end of the two weeks, the young person stated that she didn’t want to leave as she had enjoyed it so much, and really liked working in the ASBO team.
To update from previous years; a young man who took part in work experience with the catering company in the Council House in Year 10, has now secured an apprenticeship in hospitality and works in the Council House. He maintained contact with colleagues in the catering company and worked at events out of school time during Year 11.
