Transform your future — be part of an innovative work placement scheme

Gain paid work experience within a community of freelancers and small businesses

This autumn we’ll be providing Nottingham-based young people with the opportunity to work alongside a wide-range of freelancers and small businesses in order to develop their entrepreneurial skills, build connections for the future and earn money.

If you are between 18–24 years old, based in Nottingham and not currently in full-time education or employment then you can apply now to gain paid work experience that will help transform your future.

How will it work?

Throughout October/November we’ll be supporting young people to access up to 50 hours of paid work experience within a community of freelancers and small businesses.

We believe the future of work will be collaborative and flexible so those involved in the scheme will:

• Get to choose a working pattern that suits you (e.g. if you are studying part-time or have caring responsibilities we’ll support you to fit the work around your other commitments)
• Spend time working from Works Social, a contemporary co-working space in the heart of the Lace Market, Nottingham
• Work directly with at least 3 different businesses and get to network/connect with a further 8–12 businesses as part of the scheme
• Participate in group workshops and coaching sessions to help you take the skills you’ve developed forward to apply for jobs or start your own business.

How will the scheme benefit me?

We believe this work placement scheme will not only help you to develop new skills in a variety of fields through giving you access to a variety of different businesses & business people but it will also support you to identify and hone your existing skills and talents.

We want young people to experience a different way of working and this scheme aims to open your eyes to ways in which you could earn a living by working for yourself and experience the benefits of being able to fit work around the rest of your life.

We also hope that those involved in the scheme will develop lasting relationships with the individuals they work with — and perhaps you’ll find a mentor or even further employment through the connections you make.

And of course we believe that everyone’s work is valuable. Even though this is an opportunity to learn and develop your skills we want to reward you for the time and effort you put into your work placement, so you’ll be paid at least minimum wage for the hours you work.

What is the application process?

To apply to be part of the scheme simply complete this short application form. We’ll be assessing applicants suitability based on their responses to the following three questions:

1. Briefly describe what skills you’d be hoping to develop during a work placement with a freelancer or small business.
2. Briefly describe any existing skills you have which you could contribute to a freelancer or small business during your work placement.
3. To help us understand a bit more about your passions and what drives you, please share one thing you are proud of and why?

We will be working with a variety of businesses to provide the work placements which will enable us to match successful applicants with opportunities that are most suited to the skills they wish to learn and the skills they already possess.

Following initial applications we’ll then be inviting a shortlist of 6 young people to participate in a 2-hour workshop to introduce them to the world of freelancing & small business, build their understanding of basic business admin such as invoicing, and support them to develop interpersonal skills that will enable them to get the most out of the work placements. We’ll then choose 3–4 of those young people to participate in the paid work placements. The young people who participate in the workshop but who do not continue onto a work placement will receive feedback as to why they weren’t chosen in this instance and will also be kept on file in case anyone from the first cohort drops out of their work placement or for when future work placement opportunities arise.

Apply now

The deadline for applications is 16 September and we’ll be in touch with candidates by 23 September. Work placements will commence Mid-October.

This pilot has been made possible thanks to the support of Works Social, Cleo, Armakuni, Tech Nottingham and s.p.o design. You can find out more about our crowdfunding campaign here and pledge to support future cohorts here.