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 Topic: Work experience
Company name: Sky News
Scheme partner: National Council for Work Experience (NCWE)
About NCWE
The National Council for Work Experience is part of HECSU, the Higher Education Careers Services Unit. It promotes, supports and develops quality work experience for the benefit of students, organisations and the economy.
About Sky News
Sky News, based in Osterley, West London, is a twenty-four hour news service for TV, radio and online. It also produces the news service for the terrestrial Channel Five. However, more broadly speaking, its parent company Sky is part of a broadband and telephony packaged satellite TV content company.
Total number of employees
Sky employs 15,000 people – approximately 600 of which work for Sky News.
Operational countries
Sky News is based in the UK, with seven overseas bureaux.
Challenge
Often work experience is marred with images of tea-making and filing, but this is not the case with modern work experience programmes. Employers today face the challenge of implementing and maintaining a quality programme that benefits both the company and the individual. Structured programmes can enable companies to complete projects, recruit new employees and allow the student invaluable work place experience.
Project name
Work experience programme.
Project manager
Rob Kirk, editorial development manager.
Length of scheme
Sky News has been offering work experience placements since November 2005. It offers a three week placement for each student.
Work experience structure
• Students wishing to take part in the Sky News work experience programme email a CV, covering letter and 500 word piece on ‘Why Sky News should offer me a placement’.
• The best candidates are then invited in for interview.
• In addition to the Sky News work experience programme, Sky offers a wide variety of work experience placements, including an award winning modern apprenticeship and an 11 month placement for undergraduates in marketing, finance or technology.
• It's important to both Sky News and Sky as a whole, that the work experience placements take an active role in the company rather than simply shadowing personnel.
Benefits
• The work experience programme benefits both the student and Sky News.
• While the student benefits from first-hand experience in a top-class broadcasting environment, the company also benefits from the students energy, enthusiasm and fresh ideas, producing a real win-win situation for all involved.
Results
• Over the last two years approximately 15% of placements have resulted in the student continuing some kind of work within Sky News of Five News.
• Sky are finalists in the ‘New Placement Schemes’ and ‘Student Nominations’ categories at the 2008 NCWE Awards.
Lessons
• It's important for all placements students to receive a full induction to Sky News on their first day and for close mentoring to continue during the placement.
• This ensures that the student knows what is expected of them throughout the programme and feels at ease within the company.
Future plans
• Sky News plans to continue the scheme in its current form.
Key tips
1. Select placement students carefully to make sure they fit with the company.
2. Ensure placements contribute rather than merely watch.
3. Give feedback.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
The National Council for Work Experience is part of HECSU, the Higher Education Careers Services Unit. It promotes, supports and develops quality work experience for the benefit of students, organisations and the economy. Its role includes disseminating information and good practice, encouraging the development of quality standards and encouraging more employers to provide placement opportunities. NCWE run an annual awards scheme to encourage and reward organisations that display good practice in work experience.
 National Council for Work Experience and the Quality Mark accreditation scheme:
T: 0161 277 5267
E: workexperience@prospects.ac.uk
www.work-experience.org
ADDRESS:
National Council for Work Experience
Prospects House
Booth Street
Manchester
M13 9EP
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