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The Skills Service secures national accreditation for bringing high quality work experience to Peterborough
The Skills Service secures national accreditation for bringing high quality work experience to Peterborough

The Skills Service, run by Opportunity Peterborough, has achieved a Bronze level national accreditation for the quality of work experience they provide young people across the city.

The accreditation comes from Fair Train, a national body dedicated to promoting increased availability and uptake of all forms of high quality Work-Based Learning in all sectors throughout the UK, with a particular focus on the Voluntary and Community Sector.

Fair Train’s Work Experience Quality Standard is a widely and highly respected accreditation that supports organisations to achieve high quality in traditional school work experience; study programme/T-Level placements; traineeships; internships; volunteering; and apprenticeships.

The Work Experience team within the Skills Service organises over 1,000 work placement opportunities for young people in Peterborough each academic year.

Providing work experience in Peterborough forms a key part of The Skills Service’s brokerage role between businesses, education and training providers. On top of work experience, The Skills Service works in schools across Peterborough and neighbouring districts to run events ranging from mock interviews and CV masterclasses to careers fairs and enterprise challenges to boost young people’s career aspirations and employability skills.

Sarah Anstiss, Skills Lead at The Skills Service said, “We are thrilled to have achieved a Bronze award from Fair Train. It really is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our work experience team who make every effort to ensure young people’s work experience will develop skills in sectors and careers that interest them.

“We’d also like to thank the employers that showcase the many careers in their organisation and sector – work experience gives young people a vital introduction to the world of work and we’d love to see even more organisations taking part.”

Rod Natkiel, CEO of Fair Train, added, “We’re delighted to see The Skills Service join more than 450 organisations in achieving Fair Train’s Work Experience Quality Standard. The Skills Service has demonstrated that its processes ensure work experience is delivered safely and effectively, with clear collaboration with schools, training providers and employers. The team’s work also demonstrates that students have access to high-quality work experience that’s relevant to their strengths and aspirations so they can develop a range of skills that will lead to real employment opportunities.”

For more information about The Skills Service visit theskillsservice.co.uk. Any organisation interested in providing work experience can contact a member of the team by email: info@theskillsservice.co.uk or calling 01733 863696.