In the face of rising youth unemployment and economic inactivity, removing the barriers that prevent young people from accessing the world of work has never been more critical. Time and again, young people tell us that the biggest barrier to securing a job is a lack of work experience. This is the harsh reality of the “no experience, no job” cycle—one that leaves too many young people struggling to step onto the career ladder.

At Movement to Work, we are committed to breaking this cycle. Alongside our network of partners and employers, we have co-created the Work Experience Works best-practice guidance to support more inclusive, impactful and purpose-driven work experience programmes.

Download the full guidance below. If you are having issues with access, please email info@movementtowork.com

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Prioritise Equity through Intentional
Design & Collaboration

  • Principle 1: Design with purpose and inclusion
  • Principle 2: Set clear objectives and structured learning outcomes
  • Principle 3: Build impactful partnerships through collaboration

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Deliver Transformative
Learning Experiences

  • Principle 4: Cultivate robust mentorship and peer support
  • Principle 5: Foster holistic support and wellbeing
  • Principle 6: Integrate transferable
    employability skills

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Create Sustainable
Pathways for Growth

  • Principle 7: Track impact and iterate
  • Principle 8: Celebrate achievements and
    long-term impact
  • Principle 9: Curate meaningful outcomes
    for all young people

Resources

Resources, templates, and case studies to help you create impactful work experiences.

Submit a resource

Skillsbuilder Framework

Universal Framework

Skillsbuilder

A clear, step-by-step approach to incorporating essential employability skills.

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Skillsbuilder Framework

Breyer Group

The value of work experience at Breyer

Read about Katie’s journey with hands-on training in the construction industry.

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Movement to Work

Levelling the Playing Field

Report outlining insights, recommendations and actions to harness GenAI responsibly.

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Youth Futures Foundation

Youth Employment Toolkit

Summarising evidence on the impact, cost, and effectiveness of youth employment interventions.

Learn more

Careers & Enterprise Company

Employer Standards for Careers Education

A review of progress in implementing employer engagement standards in careers education.

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Careers & Enterprise Company

Modern Work Experience

Exploring new approaches to work experience that align with the changing world of work.

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Youth Futures Foundation

On-the-Job Training Toolkit 2024

A toolkit offering evidence and guidance on effective workplace training for young people.

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Gatsby Benchmarks

Updated Gatsby Benchmarks

A refreshed framework outlining the latest benchmarks for high-quality careers education.

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King’s Trust

Youth Index 2025

Annual report measuring young people’s confidence, well-being, and prospects for the future.

Learn more

GET INVOLVED

  • Raise awareness and share your view – download the guidance here and share with your network.
  • Join Movement to Work – It’s FREE!  Movement to Work is a registered charity offering free support to businesses seeking to develop youth employability programmes. There is no cost to join, no monthly fees, no price tag for events – no catch! All we ask is that you join our mission and commit to creating quality opportunities for young people, and in return, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Get in touch 
  • Already involved in Movement to Work? Reach out to a member of our team if you would like to explore how to embed this guidance into your youth employability approach – info@movementtowork.com

Campaign partners