Students Step Into the World of Work at Bridge Learning Campus

From arts and animation to engineering challenges, students at Bridge Learning Campus experienced the world of work first-hand during an exciting three-day programme.

Students at Bridge Learning Campus took part in an engaging three-day in-house Work Experience (WEX) programme from 24th–26th March, delivered in partnership with Bristol WORKS.

In-house WEX brings the workplace into school, giving students the chance to work directly with employers and industry professionals without leaving the classroom. Through a mix of hands-on activities, workshops and employer encounters, students develop key employability skills and gain insight into a wide range of career pathways, all within a supportive and accessible environment.

Across the three days, learners took part in a varied and interactive programme designed to build confidence, teamwork and communication skills. Each day focused on different sectors, with employers delivering practical sessions that gave students a real sense of what working life is like.

Standout moments included model making with Aardman Animations, where students explored creative careers in animation and brought their ideas to life; a bridge design and build challenge delivered in collaboration with AWW Architects, Red Construction, Hoare Lea and Currie & Brown, which tested teamwork, planning and engineering skills; a Science Communication session led by Bristol WORKS, where learners explored the role science plays in everyday life; and a construction challenge with the Royal Navy, where students discovered how teamwork and communication are essential when delivering humanitarian relief in challenging environments.

Throughout the programme, students showed great enthusiasm and resilience, growing in confidence as they took on new challenges and stepped outside their comfort zones. The opportunity to engage directly with employers also helped learners better understand the skills, attitudes and pathways needed to succeed in different industries.

Students valued the chance to apply their skills in new contexts, with many feeding back that working with new people had boosted their confidence and encouraged them to consider a wider range of career pathways.

As one learner put it: “My expectations were smashed to hell with how good this was!”

Bristol WORKS would like to extend a huge thank you to all the employers who contributed their time, energy and expertise to support the programme. Experiences like this play a vital role in helping young people make informed choices about their future and see how their learning connects to the world beyond the classroom.

If your organisation would like to support an in-house Work Experience programme and help inspire the next generation, Bristol WORKS would love to hear from you.