Torridge District Council gives students from Great Torrington School valuable week of Work Experience
With youth unemployment affecting just over 16% of 16-24-year-olds in the UK, work experience has become a critical and valuable part of the school curriculum. Gaining hands‑on experience is increasingly important for young people entering the workforce, with 29% of employers saying experience is critical when recruiting young people, and a further 45% saying it is significant*.
As part of the Council's commitment to develop the skills of the future generation, students from Great Torrington School recently took part in a week‑long work experience programme, designed to give them a better understanding of the Council and the range of services it provides. The placements also aim to help students build confidence and develop key skills through real‑life workplace experience.
The Council welcomed three students, who spent time working across a variety of departments, including Legal, Customer Services, Economic Development, Revenues & Benefits, Environmental Protection and Planning.
The work experience programme focuses on matching students with teams aligned to their interests, while also giving them the opportunity to spend time across different areas of the organisation throughout the week. This approach helps students develop a broader understanding of how local government operates and the wide range of roles available, while also building valuable experience to strengthen their CVs and support future job applications.
Feedback from the students highlighted that they enjoyed spending time across multiple departments and valued the insight they gained into the variety of careers available within local government. One student, who particularly enjoyed their placement in Legal, said: "I really enjoyed my placement and learning all about the different sectors of law that the Council deals with". Another student added: "I had a really fun and enjoyable time and there was a lot of varied work which kept everything interesting."
Sarah Ayres, Head of People and Customer Focus at Torridge District Council, said:
"Work experience is such an important opportunity to help students understand the roles available to them and identify areas they genuinely enjoy. Thinking about the future can feel overwhelming, so we are proud to offer a programme that provides variety and hands‑on experience, giving a real insight into what working in local government is like. Through these placements, we hope to inspire local young people and highlight the Council as an employer of choice. We look forward to welcoming more students as part of our ongoing relationship with Great Torrington School".
Louise Leonard, Careers & Employer Engagement Officer at Great Torrington School, said:
"We are thrilled that so many local businesses across Torridge, North Devon and beyond have supported our pupils for their Year 10 work experience. These opportunities play a vital role in helping young people become curious about the world of work, develop confidence and employability skills, and gain a real insight into the pathways available to them beyond school. We are extremely grateful to all the employers who give their time and expertise to make this possible".
* Why is work experience so important for your students? | UCAS
* Some 16.1% of people aged 16 to 24 are not able to find work, compared to a national unemployment figure of 5.1%. (Office for National Statistics (ONS)).
Apr 26
