What is work experience?
Work experience is an opportunity for you to learn about the world of work, to experience activities and develop the skills that will equip you for future employment.
The National Trust may be able to offer some fun, challenging and interesting work experience and to enquire please read the notes and follow the instructions carefully.
What can we offer you?
Location
The National Trust has a central office called Heelis in Swindon, 11 regional offices and hundreds of built and countryside properties across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Not all places can offer work experience but you should try to identify which properties you would like to work at and which you can easily travel to. You can find these by searching our website for properties near you. We cannot guarantee to find you a placement but the more help you give us and the more committed you are to working for us, the easier it will be.
Type of work
The National Trust is an organisation that relies on the skills of many different people including wardens, conservators, archaeologists, botanists accountants, IT specialists, receptionists, solicitors, property managers, policy advisors, builders, architects, cleaners, strategists, administrators, chefs, caterers, retailers, youth and community workers, volunteer co-ordinators, theatre managers, gardeners and many more.
Consider what interests you most, you may find that the National Trust can help you find the right experience.
Skills and knowledge
The National Trust requires every individual to communicate well, work as a team, plan, monitor and review work, provide good customer service, solve problems and make decisions, and be creative in their approach to work.
Most staff also need to be able to use IT equipment and software, email and the internet/intranet. Using photocopiers, printers and the telephone is part of the day to day work of our office staff and helps to keep the organisation running effectively. Staff also have to consider their own safety and that of others and so work responsibly with care and attention.
When applying for work experience think about what skills, knowledge and activities you wish to develop. There are some legal restrictions on what you are allowed to do but even if this is the case you may be observe others.
Length of work experience
Most work experience with under 18s takes place over a week as part of your school’s work experience programme. In some cases work experience can take place during school holidays. Schools are now moving towards extended work experience placements, which may take place 1 or 2 days a week over a period of months. The National Trust will try to cater for different needs but each placement is dealt with individually and we cannot guarantee a placement that suits you.
Our expectations of you
Organising work experience placements is time consuming and relies on the goodwill of many busy staff and volunteers who recognise the benefits it can bring to you and to the Trust. To enable us to offer the best placements we can please:
- Be clear why you want to have work experience with the National Trust and what you hope to achieve.
- Be open and honest and tell us in good time if you wish to cancel your placement.
- Try your best during your time with us and tell us how we can improve in the future.
In return we will:
- Be open and honest and inform you as soon as we can about potential placements
- Try to ensure that the placement lives up to your expectations and that you develop the skills you have identified
- Give you constructive feedback on how you have done
- Improve future placements based on your comments
If you are interested in completing your work experience with the National Trust complete our online enquiry form. |
