Charter Work Experience Programme
Background
The Charter Work Experience Programme commenced in January 1999 in response to the Northern Ireland Business Education Partnership (NIBEP) survey of Northern Ireland post-primary schools in 1995/96, in which the need for improved quality and greater access to work experience was clearly identified.
Charter offers a centralised database matching service to employers and schools. They have developed a database of suitable employers willing to offer placements to young people. Each year Charter places hundreds of students. This requires careful liaison with both the schools and employers to ensure that there is good communication and that job descriptions, risk assessments, insurance and other health and safety procedures are in place.
Charter Work Experience aims to ensure fairness and equality of access and opportunity for all. They also try to ensure that employers offer students quality work experience places that match their vocational interest and career choice.
What do Charter offer schools?
Charter Work Experience can supplement existing work place opportunities organised by the school. They aim to act as a ‘one stop shop’ that allows teachers to request more than one placement at a time. Teachers should contact Charter directly for details of available work experience places.
What do Charter offer employers
They are committed to making work experience more organised and hassle free for employers. This is achieved through the use of a centrally co-ordinated database that allows them to match student and employer needs. They also liase with schools to ensure the appropriate student attends and is well prepared for and gets full benefit from their placement. Charter aims to provide quality placements to school students and to relieve the employer of the administrative burden of work experience.
For further information on the Charter Work Experience Programme,contact the Charter team:
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Work Experience Programme
C/o Business in the Community
Bridge House
Paulett Avenue
Belfast
BT5 4HD
Tel: 028 9045 1444
Fax: 028 9045 2111
Email: joanne.mehaffy@bitcni.org.uk
Work Experience Case Studies
Journalism
Retail
School and Hospital
Veterinary Surgery
Joinery