Work experience doesn't always have the best reputation.

A lot of adults have a story about a placement week that amounted to not very much. Sitting in the background, doing the odd admin task, watching other people work. A week off school, essentially, dressed up as career development.

We wanted to do something different for Kateryna and Kajona, two Year 10 students from Kings Church of England Academy.

How it started

Kateryna and Kajona didn't come to us through a school careers outreach or a blanket email to local businesses. They were in their maths class when Alexandra came to speak at their school, and something about it stuck for them.

After the talk, they approached Alexandra directly, curious about her career as an Architect and business owner, about what we do, and about whether it could be something for them too.

We love that. It takes confidence to do that at 15, and it told us everything we needed to know about the kind of work experience week they deserved.
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What they got up to at Powell Design & Construction

From the very first day, we gave them real work to get on with.

Under the guidance of our Architectural Assistant, Lucas, both students learned how to use Revit (the industry software our team use every day) and they built a full 3D model of a five-bedroom detached house from scratch, with walls, doors, windows, and roof included.

They sketched out a new internal layout, and put together interior design mood boards alongside everything else.

They also sat down with Laura and Lucas separately to ask questions about their roles and how they each found their way into the industry, which we thought showed a really thoughtful approach to making the most of their time with us.

On Friday, they presented everything back to Alexandra and Laura. Relaxed, confident, and genuinely impressive for five days' work.

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Why we take work experience seriously

We're a small team, so taking students on properly does take time. But we think it's worth it, and we'll keep making space for it.

A lot of young people, girls especially, might not end up in construction, architecture, or design simply because they've never really seen it up close. They don't know what the day-to-day looks like, or whether there's a place for someone like them in it. Getting out into schools and colleges, and then following through with placements like this one, is our small way of changing that.

Kateryna and Kajona are a good example of how it can work. They came to a talk, felt something, and took the next step themselves. That's exactly the chain of events we're hoping to create every time we show up somewhere.

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On women in construction

We don't think this needs a big speech, but it's worth saying.

Architecture, design, and construction are still industries where women are underrepresented, and we feel a responsibility to do something about that in whatever way we can. When young women spend a week with us doing real, skilled, technical work, and then stand up and present it confidently at the end, they leave knowing from experience that this industry has a place for them.

Every route is theirs to take. Interior design, architecture, spatial planning, surveying, project management, trades. There's no single path, and there's no room they don't belong in.

A note for other businesses

If you're able to offer work experience, it's worth thinking about what you actually give students to do.

They reached out because they're interested in what you do. A week of filing doesn't tell them much about that. But a week of real projects, real conversations, and a chance to present something at the end? That can genuinely help someone figure out where they're headed.

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Interested in work experience at Powell Design & Construction?
Get in touch at info@powelldc.uk

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