Liverpool City Region to lead the way in reinventing work experience for schoolchildren

A new national pilot aimed at transforming work experience for schoolchildren is set to launch in the Liverpool City Region.

The equalex pilot will introduce a fresh approach, replacing the traditional two-week block work experience with a flexible, multi-experience model that spans 10 days throughout a student’s secondary education.

The goal is to provide more meaningful, varied, and skills-focused experiences to help young people prepare for their future careers.

Several prominent city region employers – including Jaguar Land Rover, Knowledge Quarter Liverpool, NHS England, Atkins Realis, Keepmoat, Kimpton and Unilever – are interested in supporting the pilot, along with small and medium-sized businesses, and 12 schools.  

The work experiences will be aimed at filling skills gaps and equipping local children for tech jobs in the city region’s pioneering Life Sciences Innovation Zone.  

The pilot is one of four across England, each testing a different part of the new model, before the project is scaled up to allow for national roll-out. 

Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram said:  

“Work experience is a vital part of a young person’s education, helping to equip them with the knowledge, confidence, and skills they need for their future careers. 

“But for too long, too many pupils have missed out on meaningful opportunities – leaving them at a disadvantage when they take their first steps into the world of work. That has to change. 

“I’m delighted that our region has been chosen to help lead the way on this innovative pilot. By giving schoolchildren real experience in some of our fastest-growing industries – like tech and our expanding Life Sciences Innovation Zone – we’re not just equipping them with the skills for the jobs of the future, we’re making sure those opportunities are open to everyone, no matter their background.” 

The government removed statutory requirement for schools to deliver work experience in England in 2012.   

Since then, schools have struggled to prioritise placements and participation levels have dropped. It is accepted across the sector that only about 50% of young people have work experience. 

The equalex pilot has been developed by The Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC), the national body for careers education, and supported by Careers Hubs. It is a multi-year, multi-experience model supported by the curriculum and open to all learners.    

The tiered approach provides a breadth and depth of workplace experiences totalling ten days throughout secondary education. The pilot is one of four national trials – including Greater Manchester, West Midlands and West Yorkshire – with each testing a separate aspect. 

In the city region, the initiative will target the key growth sectors of Advanced Manufacturing, Digital and Creative, and Health and Life Sciences.  

It will run in partnership with the LCR Careers Hub at no cost to the schools involved.  

Modern work experience should be  flexible in terms of length and will run across Key Stage 3 and 4. Key stage 3 covers the first three years of secondary school, while Key Stage 4 covers the final two years.  

This will give students the chance to make informed choices and gain work experience before and after making GCSE options   

The project will also examine the challenges faced by employers in providing work experience and look for ways to support and inspire businesses to take part.  

Oli de Botton, CEO of The Careers & Enterprise Company said:  

“We are thrilled to be working with the Liverpool City Region to launch a new work experience pilot for young people in the area. The approach means that learners from ages 11-14 will access the region’s fast-growing industries over 10 days’ worth of high-quality experiences. Our goal is to ensure that all young people, particularly those who are currently missing out, can gain the experiences that help them get ready to thrive in the future.” 

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