Bridges Project launches new work experience programme

Bridges Project is looking for local employers to sign up to the new Bridges Pathway work experience programme, which aims to bring mutual benefits to both businesses and young people.

The Bridges Pathway will match businesses up with work-ready young people for work experience placements.

The initiative will be run as part of the wider Bridges Pathways programme, which is funded by the Robertson Trust and focuses on supporting young people in East Lothian and Midlothian to develop the skills they need to move into positive destinations.

Employability Support Worker Grant Hamilton delivers the programme and said the idea behind it stems from how challenging it is for local young people to obtain their first experience in the world of work.

“Many of the young people we work with did not attend school for significant periods of time and therefore missed out on getting any work experience through school. However, after working with Bridges Project, a lot of these young people have now obtained great qualifications and job skills and are work-ready but simply not able to get an interview”, said Grant.

Bridges Project works with nearly 300 young people a year, of whom around 60% are of school leaving age or older. The pool of young people employers can access through the Bridges Pathway will therefore be significant.

Bridges Project will also take the pressure off from employers in terms of facilitating the work experience placements.

“Before matching a young person up with a business for work experience, we will work with that young person to ensure that they have the skills, confidence and qualifications needed to be in a position of work-readiness. We will also support any partners who sign up to the programme to conduct the relevant risk-assessments and check they have the insurance coverage they need – and which they will probably already have. We will then set up introduction meetings between the young person and the partner and make arrangements for the work experience placement to take place,” said Grant.

The work experience placements can last for as long as the respective employer and young person agree to.

Grant stressed that there will be many advantages for employers to sign up to the initiative.

“Employers can rest assured that any young person we put forward will be work-ready and that we will support them throughout their work experience placement. Young people will therefore contribute more to the employers than the employers will have to invest in them. Still, young people will gain invaluable experience, so it will be a win-win for everyone,” said the Employability Support Worker.

Maya Mason is one of Bridges Project’s young people who knows the benefits of work experience placements first-hand. She did a three-month placement with Aberlady Primary School and believes the experience was vital in giving her an insight into working with young people.

“It gave me skills, confidence and experience. If you have an idea of what you want to do and want to test it out, I think work experience placements are great as you get an idea of what it would be like working in that specific sector,” said Maya.

Bridges Project hopes several businesses from across the Lothians will sign up to become a Bridges Pathway partner. The charity is particularly looking for employers in industries such as construction, hair & beauty, hospitality and retail.

Grant has a clear call to action for potential partners:

“To all local employers – whether you have enjoyed working with us in the past or are engaging with us for the first time – if you’re interested in signing up or learning more, please visit bridgesproject.org.uk/thebridgespathway”.