As part of Unit 27: Work Experience in Business, Year 12 BTEC Business students completed a highly successful Work Experience Week, gaining first‑hand exposure to professional business environments and developing essential employability skills. This internally assessed unit allows learners to explore the benefits of work‑related learning by undertaking and reflecting on appropriate workplace experiences, and the quality of placements secured this year strongly reflected the ambition and capability of the cohort.

Students accessed an impressive range of placements across commercial property, luxury automotive sales and marketing, agriculture, finance and insurance, FMCG, food consultancy, hospitality and global beauty brands. Employers included Porsche, Michael Elliott (commercial property investment), Agrii, ARTes Specialty at Lloyd’s of London, Radnor Hills, The Food Service Centre (FSC), Moroccanoil distribution, and luxury hospitality businesses, highlighting both the breadth of opportunity available and the confidence employers placed in BTEC Business students.

In line with the aims of Unit 27, students were not passive observers. They carried out meaningful workplace responsibilities, including placing and processing orders, preparing products for customers, handling returns, supporting underwriting and compliance checks, creating marketing materials, contributing to sales activity, assisting with events, managing bookings, responding to customer enquiries, benchmarking competitors and shadowing senior meetings. Many students were trusted with tasks that required accuracy, confidentiality and professionalism, reinforcing the real‑world relevance of the experience.

Through completing their placements, students developed a wide range of practical workplace skills, including communication, teamwork, confidence, organisation, problem‑solving, time management and adaptability. Several reflected on the challenge of learning new technologies and systems, particularly data‑driven platforms, but demonstrated resilience and independence as they quickly adapted and grew in confidence. This directly supports the unit’s focus on developing transferable skills such as self‑management, teamworking and effective communication.

Students also made strong connections between their work experience and their BTEC Business learning, particularly in marketing, customer service, finance, operations, sales, risk management and responsible business. Concepts that had previously been studied in theory were seen in practice, enabling students to evaluate employer expectations, understand occupational roles and reflect meaningfully on their own performance through structured reflection.

Work experience remains highly valued by employers and provides a clear advantage for future pathways. As intended by Unit 27, many students reported increased clarity regarding career aspirations, with growing interest in sectors such as finance and insurance, commercial property, agriculture, sales and marketing, brand management and hospitality management. Others highlighted the importance of professional behaviour, accountability and collaboration in real business settings.

Overall, the Year 12 BTEC Business Work Experience Week was a resounding success. Students represented the school with professionalism and maturity, returning with enhanced confidence, motivation and employability skills. The range and quality of placements demonstrate the strength of the BTEC Business programme in preparing students for higher education, apprenticeships and employment, fully meeting the aims of Unit 27 and reinforcing the value of applied learning within the curriculum.