Pre-16 school work experience and civil engineering careers

Most school pupils in Britain undertake a 1- or 2-week work experience placement before the age of 16 to introduce them to the world of work. Many civil engineering companies offer placements with the aim of encouraging young people into the profession. This paper reports on a study to assess the extent to which this experience influences subsequent educational and career choices in civil engineering. It concludes that good-quality civil engineering placements can be a powerful tool for recruiting future civil engineers.