Work experience is more than just a line on a CV—it can be a turning point. For many young people, especially those without connections or confidence, a placement in the right setting can be the difference between a future full of possibilities and one where doors remain firmly shut.
That’s why it’s welcome news that the Government’s Get Britain Working White Paper sets out a Youth Guarantee, including an entitlement to two weeks or 50 hours of work experience for all school and college students. It’s an important commitment, but one that must be matched by ambition. If we are serious about improving social mobility, then it’s not just about quantity, it’s about quality.
We need to ensure that every hour spent on work experience is genuinely impactful. Too often, placements are poorly matched, leaving students demoralised rather than inspired. A potential game-changer could be the creation of a national platform for work experience, one that offers virtual opportunities and allows schools to tailor placements to their pupils’ needs. It would ease the administrative burden on already stretched teachers and make it easier for employers of all sizes to get involved.
But even the best ideas falter without proper funding.
Nearly half of state-school teachers say they want more resources allocated to careers guidance. It’s not hard to see why. In many schools, careers education is squeezed into corners of the timetable, handled by staff without the time or recognition to do it justice. Private schools, by contrast, are estimated to invest up to four times more in careers services. If we fail to bridge that gap, we risk further entrenching inequality and entrenching low social mobility along with it.
Crucially, careers support must go beyond the classroom. Not every young person’s path is straightforward. Some fall through the gaps. Others face barriers that education alone cannot solve. That’s why we must also support organisations working with those who’ve been left behind.
Take WeMindTheGap, a charity based in Wrexham that works with 16–25-year-olds across North East Wales and North West England. They offer fully funded 18-month programmes with structured placements, mentorship, and critically paid six-month work opportunities. Their impact is profound.
Vicki, a programme graduate, was stuck on Jobseeker’s Allowance, lacking direction and confidence. Through the programme, she rediscovered her creativity, built skills in real-world settings, and landed a job. Sophie, who once lived in a hostel at 16, is now Moneypenny’s first Finance Apprentice, managing client accounts and pursuing a professional qualification. These are not isolated cases they’re proof that when we meet young people where they are, with empathy and belief, they rise.
Yet fewer than one in five 16–21-year-olds feel they’ve received adequate careers guidance. We owe them better. We must stop expecting teenagers to navigate a complex, often unequal system on their own. Instead, we must invest in personalised, compassionate support that recognises each individual’s story, hopes, and talents.
This means more than providing opportunities: it means building trust, offering consistent mentorship, and creating environments where every young person feels seen and believed in. That’s how we foster genuine opportunity, not just performative access.
We should celebrate the progress we’ve made. Careers leaders across the country are doing vital work. Employers are increasingly opening their doors to new talent. But if we’re serious about levelling up and unlocking potential, we must go further.
One of this Government’s overarching aims is to break down the barriers to opportunity Careers education must be at the heart of that mission. Let’s be bold, let’s be imaginative and let’s give every young person the tools they need to thrive, no matter where they start.
Careers education and support must be at the heart of Labour’s plan to help young people into work
