Create Opportunities and Build Confidence
Offering a short-term work experience placement can make a lasting impact on a young person’s future. Many 16 to 24-year-olds struggle to access meaningful opportunities because they lack experience—yet they can’t gain experience without being given a chance. Even a one-week placement in your workplace can provide valuable insight into what a real job involves. It helps young people understand professional expectations, such as punctuality, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. These placements build confidence, strengthen core skills, and often spark ambition. For employers, it’s a low-risk, high-impact way to support the local community and identify potential future staff.
Beyond a placement, you can go a step further by assigning a mentor or buddy to guide a young person through their first steps into work. This could be a trusted member of your team who shows them the ropes, answers their questions, and models professional behaviour. A little mentoring can go a long way. It helps young people settle in, feel supported, and better understand how to contribute. It also gives your staff the opportunity to develop leadership and coaching skills, creating a more engaged and inclusive workplace. Young employees who receive this kind of support are more likely to thrive, stay longer, and grow with your business.
By offering work experience and mentoring, you are not only opening a door for someone else—you are investing in the future of your workforce and your community. StepInJobs is here to support you in setting up and managing these opportunities, making the process easy, rewarding, and impactful.
