Host a work placement

Hosting a flexible work placement is a rewarding way to support unemployed Salford residents, helping them gain vital skills, confidence, and experience to thrive in the workplace.

By offering a placement, you can bring fresh ideas, enthusiasm, and local talent into your organisation, all while making a positive impact on the Salford community.

Through Salford Futures, our flagship employability initiative, we provide tailored support to connect local residents with meaningful work placements and equip employers with the tools they need to create successful, mutually beneficial opportunities.

Frequently asked questions

Who are work placements for?

Placements are available to Salford residents who are either currently unemployed or under-employed (i.e. currently working, but overqualified and/or on a zero contract or low hours).

A work placement is ideal for residents who have a gap on their CV and/or an inconsistent employment history. Salford Futures will help to provide participants with the opportunity to develop the necessary workplace competencies, skills and experience.

What are the benefits for employers and teams?

By helping residents to gain work experience, you can:

enhance organisational profile and services provided to the local community
keep in touch with local residents and communities who access your services
create opportunities for existing staff to develop their mentoring, supervisory and coaching skills and experience
motivate and value your employees
access a pool of hidden talent - people who offer enthusiasm and a fresh perspective to your organisation and service
have the chance to contribute to the supply of skills to encourage future employees to recruit local talent and to improve the quality of people entering work
have people with fresh ideas asking questions about what you do and why you do it
raise the profile of your business and sector
generate awareness of the careers available whilst breaking down stereotypical views about the sector, for example that certain careers are only for men or women only
reduce the cost and timescales of any future recruitment needs

Where are candidates referred from?

Candidates are referred from a wide range of locally based statutory and non-statutory services and learning, skills and work providers e.g. Skills and Work, Salford Employment Hub, Jobcentre Plus, National Careers Service, Salford City College Group, Salford Wellbeing Services and other voluntary and community organisations.

How long are placements for?

Usually placements last between eight and ten weeks and for up to 30 hours per week.

However, shorter placements for fewer days per week and less than eight weeks can be arranged depending on the individual circumstances of the candidate and also the availability of a placement with the employer.

Could your organisation host a placement?

If there are already people working in that environment, then the likelihood is that a placement can be hosted there, providing the relevant health and safety and risk assessment procedures are followed.

If a specific risk assessment is needed for young people, we will arrange this with you at your convenience.

How do I choose a work placement candidate?

You will be able to choose your own respective work placement candidates by attending planned recruitment events and undertaking informal interviews. This follows an initial assessment process to ensure the quality of the candidates shortlisted for placements are appropriate. 

After the recruitment events, a scoring and matching process will be undertaken and based on the feedback received from employers candidates will be allocated a placement according to a 'best fit' approach, taking into consideration their individual score and current skills base.

What do I need to do to host a work experience placement?

Complete the customer enquiry form or email salfordfutures@salford.gov.uk