Last updated: 9 Jul 2026
Arranging a work experience placement
Work experience placements give further education students hands-on insight into construction careers, helping them understand how new homes are delivered while supporting skills development and stronger links between colleges and industry.
In this section
About this guidance
This guidance supports employers in the home building industry to offer work experience placements to further education students. It explains how placements work, what is required, and how to create safe and meaningful on-site learning opportunities in partnership with colleges and training providers.
Setting up a placement
Offering a work placement to a college student
Work placements give students valuable experience of working in home building while helping employers introduce young people to careers in the industry. Most placements are straightforward to organise, with colleges and training providers supporting employers throughout the process.
Do I need to pay a work placement student?
In most cases, students undertaking a work placement as part of a school, college or further education course are not employees and do not need to be paid. However, many employers choose to reimburse reasonable travel or lunch expenses. The placement organiser can advise on the arrangements that apply to your placement.
Who arranges the placement?
Placements are typically organised through a school, college, training provider or brokerage organisation. They will usually help identify suitable students, agree on learning objectives and support both the student and employer throughout the placement.
What insurance do I need?
Most employers' liability insurance policies cover work placement students, but you should confirm this with your insurer before the placement begins.
Download the PaC Employer Insurance checklistDo students need a CSCS card for a placement?
No, students do not typically need a CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) to complete work-experience because they are there to observe or learn — not do paid skilled construction work.
Can students take part in site activities?
Yes, provided activities are age-appropriate, risk-assessed and properly supervised. Students should not undertake activities that would place them or others at risk.
Planning a successful placement
How do I offer a work placement?
There are several ways to offer a work placement:
- Contact local colleges and further education providers directly. Key contacts typically include:
- Employer engagement lead
- Curriculum Lead
- Department or Faculty Head of Construction
- Subject Tutors (for example, Construction and Built Environment, Building and Construction, Civil Engineering)
- Work with organisations that connect employers and students, such as Construction Youth Trust | Building Brighter Futures
- Contact your local careers hub, training provider or industry network
How does the matching process work?
In most cases, colleges and training providers will identify suitable students and match them to available placements based on factors such as course requirements, location, travel arrangements and career interests.
Some providers may ask employers to have an informal conversation with students before confirming a placement. Others will allocate students directly and manage the arrangements on your behalf.
The placement organiser will explain the process, provide the necessary paperwork and act as your main point of contact before and during the placement.
What makes a successful work placement?
The most successful placements provide students with a clear structure, meaningful activities and regular support.
Good work placements typically include:
- A planned timetable of activities
- A named supervisor or mentor
- Exposure to different roles across the business
- Opportunities to ask questions and reflect on learning
- A thorough site induction on day one
- Regular feedback throughout the placement
Download the Employer Work Experience Plan Template
Share and agree a written plan for the work placement with the organiser advance, including role outlines, induction arrangements and any site or workplace requirements to ensure expectations are understood on both sides.
Top tips:
Pair students with a positive, engaged site mentor who models good safety and work practices. Students learn as much from what they observe as from what they’re told. Choose someone who genuinely wants to support and develop a young person, rather than someone who has been assigned the role reluctantly, as their enthusiasm and commitment can make a significant difference to the student’s experience and introduction to life on site.
How long do work placements usually last?
The most common work placement length within home building is around two weeks.
However, placements vary depending on the student's course requirements and the employer's capacity. Placements can range from one week to several weeks in duration.
The college or training provider will confirm the expected duration and learning outcomes before the placement begins.
Developing a work placement timetable of activities
Many work placements form part of a further education programme. Colleges and training providers will often work with employers to identify learning outcomes and develop suitable activities.
Throughout the placement, students should be given appropriate exposure to real tasks and supported by a named supervisor who provides guidance, feedback and oversight of their experience.
A balance of observation, practical involvement and structured learning activities helps ensure the placement is engaging, safe and aligned with the agreed objectives.
When planning activities:
- Provide a variety of experiences where possible.
- Give students exposure to different roles and teams.
- Ensure all activities are age-appropriate and safely supervised.
- Build in time for questions, reflection and feedback.
- Consider working hours and rest breaks appropriate to the student's age.
Students on work placements are often expected to follow normal site working hours where appropriate, although arrangements should always comply with guidance relating to young people and any requirements set by the education provider.
Regardless of the planned activities, every placement should begin with a site induction.
Download the Employer Work Experience Checklist TemplatePaperwork and Compliance
What paperwork is required?
Work placements are generally paperwork-light, with colleges and training providers supporting employers through the process.
Typical requirements include:
Ensure your health and safety policies and procedures are up to date.
Students on work experience are legally regarded as employees for health and safety purposes.
In most cases, employers’ existing workplace risk assessments will already cover the types of hazards that work experience students may encounter. However, employers must review their risk assessments if they are new to offering work experience placements or have not previously employed or hosted individuals under the age of 18.
The college or training provider will work with you to complete a suitable risk assessment that reflects the student's age, experience and planned activities.
Further guidance is available from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
You should confirm that your employer's liability insurance covers work placement students.
DBS requirements vary depending on the student's age and the nature of the placement. Your placement organiser will advise if a DBS check is required for any member of staff involved in supervising the student.
DBS checks typically take 2-4 weeks.
Preparing for the student's arrival
How do I prepare for the student's arrival?
Preparing in advance helps students feel welcome and enables them to make the most of their placement.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Check PPE requirements before the placement begins.
Some students may already have PPE through their college or training provider. Confirm this with the placement organiser and ensure any additional equipment is available in the correct size before the student arrives.
Accessibility and reasonable adjustments
Ask the student or placement organiser whether any adjustments are needed to support the student's participation.
Reasonable adjustments may be required to ensure the placement is accessible and inclusive.
Send a welcome email
At least one week before the placement starts, send the student a welcome email explaining what to expect.
Include:
- Site location and travel information
- Start and finish times
- Break arrangements
- What to wear
- PPE requirements
- Name and contact details of their supervisor
- Key health and safety information
- What to expect on the first day
If the student will be working on a particular project or activity during their placement, consider sharing a brief overview in advance.
During the site visit
What should be included in a site induction?
A good site induction helps students understand how to stay safe and what to expect during their placement.
Your induction should cover:
- Key health and safety information
- Fire safety and emergency procedures
- Site rules and welfare facilities
- Overview of the site and project
- Introduction to key contacts and site teams
- Information about your organisation and its values
- Expectations during the placement
We recommend finalising induction materials at least one week before the student's start date.
What happens if the placement is not working out?
Speak to the student's placement organiser as soon as possible. Colleges and training providers can help resolve issues and, where necessary, make alternative arrangements.
After the work placement
Ending and evaluating the work experience placement
A structured end-of-placement review should be completed to assess the effectiveness of the experience and capture learning for both the student and the employer.
This should include a debrief between the student and their supervisor to reflect on what they have learned, discuss achievements against the placement objectives, and address any final questions.
Feedback should be gathered from both the student and the employer to identify what worked well and where improvements could strengthen future placements.
This feedback should then be reviewed internally and shared with relevant education partners, where appropriate, to improve the quality, consistency and impact of future work experience opportunities.
Providing feedback to the college will be important to support the student’s development.
Downloadable evaluation resources
Further guidance
Government has committed funding to support Industry Placement for all Level 2 and 3 construction learners. These placements are designed to help learners become more ‘site-ready’ by gaining practical onsite experience, supporting their progression into further training or employment once they have achieved their qualification.
Industry placements for level 2 and 3 construction qualifications - GOV.UK
Support the development of this toolkit
Support the ongoing development of this toolkit by sharing feedback and examples of site visits.
Contact the Home Builders Federation to contribute to future updates and best practice guidance.