Work Experience for Students
At the New Forest Centre we are always delighted when students choose to complete their work experience with us and we hope that they thoroughly enjoy their time with us. Each year we offer 2 two-week placements for Year 10 students.
We also welcome applications from suitable college and university students for further or longer term assignments.
How to Apply for a Placement
We accept applications from Year 10 students from schools within the Hampshire region. We give preference to schools who are part of the SOLENT EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP work experience scheme.
To apply for a placement please write your letter, addressing it to Trish Dorricott, Office Manager, detailing:
- why you would like to come to the New Forest Centre
- what you hope to gain from the programme
- which school you are from
- the dates of your work experience
Please let us know if your school is part of the SOLENT EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP scheme.
Selection
If you apply to the New Forest Centre we will invite you to drop in for a brief informal interview to ensure that you know what to expect from a work experience placement here.
We carefully consider all applications and will write to all applicants advising of the outcome. We make our final selection in November.
Once selected we ensure that that all the necessary paperwork is completed and give you a copy of your work schedule and our own work experience risk assessment.
Work Experience Programme
Hours of work - 10.00am to 4.00pm daily, Monday to Friday
Dress - Smart casual. There will be some occasions when you will be scheduled to accompany the Education Team on an off-site school activity and for this you will need clothing and footwear appropriate to the Forest conditions on the day.
Lunch Break - 30 minutes. Please bring your own packed lunch as we do not have a canteen. Our spacious staff room has tea/coffee making facilities plus a microwave oven, sandwich toaster and a toaster. Alternatively, there are many establishments on Lyndhurst High Street that sell sandwiches etc.
So that we can give you a full experience of how the New Forest Centre is run, and to ensure that you get as much as possible out of your time with us, we endeavour to make sure our students spend time in every section. This helps to give you experience of all aspects of the Centre and help you to understand how it all contributes to the work of the Centre as a whole.
Below is an example of a typical work experience programme for a two week period. As you can see, you will spend time with each department, including working with the Front of House team, and you also have two days where you can choose which department you liked the best to spend extra time with.
| Date | Time | Section |
| Week 1 |
||
| Monday | 10am 10am - 11am 11am - 4pm |
Office - welcome, induction and Health & Safety talk Tour of building Administrative tasks |
| Tuesday | 10am - 4pm | Education Section: shadow a Human Impact Day |
| Wednesday | 10am - 4pm | Front of House: Work with Shop Staff/Retail Manager |
| Thursday | 10am - 4pm | Work with Librarian in Christopher Tower Reference Library |
| Friday | 10am - 4pm | Marketing with Centre Manager |
| Week 2 |
||
| Monday | 10am - 4pm | Centre Office |
| Tuesday | 10am - 4pm | Front of House: Work with Shop Staff/Manager |
| Wednesday | 10am - 4pm | Students's choice |
| Thursday | 10am - 4pm | Education Section: shadow a Natural Habitats Day |
| Friday | 10am - 4pm | Student's choice |