Young, gifted and looking for work

Businesses looking for a cost effective and flexible solution to the perennial summer resourcing nightmare, should try their local colleges and universities where legions of bright, enthusiastic young people are crying out for short term work experience opportunities.

According to Liz Rhodes, director of the NCWE, over half a million students will be available for work placements this summer and employers who don''t make the most of this valuable seasonal resource are really missing a trick:

Businesses can benefit from employing an student in so many different ways: for example, many companies are sitting on ideas and projects which have failed to mature due to time and personnel constraints yet could be brought to fruition by a work experience student, or by a student simply releasing an existing member of staff to complete the task, explains Rhodes.

Many students are brimming with fresh ideas and challenging insights. They add value with their enhanced knowledge and confidence with new technologies, and can often spot new opportunities and suggest effective working practices which an employer may not see being so close to the business. Theses energies and skills, correctly channelled, can make a real difference to a company.

Work experience can also help reduce recruitment costs as Liz explains:

Many companies go on to offer permanent positions to students they have employed on a short term basis and this really is a win win situation. Not only do companies save on recruitment time and related costs but also benefit from higher staff retention as both parties already know what to expect from the other.

Liz Rhodes offers the following tips to companies considering an intern this year:

- agree measurable work objectives and reporting procedures at the start;
- also agree remuneration up front. NCWE advises that students should be paid at least the minimum wage;
- the more you involve the students in the workplace, the more you''ll get out of them;
- companies can advertise their placements on the prospects.ac.uk work experience bank;
- for full details on all aspects of work experience, visit the NCWE web site