Our Work Experience Programme provides students with an opportunity to gain insight into a professional regulatory organisation and understand how we work to protect the public and uphold professional standards.
Work experience offers a valuable introduction to the workplace and helps young people develop confidence, workplace awareness, and an understanding of different career pathways. The programme is designed to give students a meaningful and structured learning experience, allowing them to observe and engage with a variety of roles across the organisation.
Through this programme, we aim to support the development of future talent while strengthening our connection with the community we serve.
Who the Programme is For
Our work experience placements are open to students who are:
In the final years of compulsory education or post-16 education
Typically aged 15–17
Interested in learning about careers within regulation, public service, or professional organisations
We aim to accommodate students primarily from secondary schools local (within a 5-6mile radius) to our London office in Kennington.
What to Expect
Placements typically last one week in July and takes place at our offices during normal working hours.
During the placement students will:
Gain exposure to different departments across the organisation
Observe how regulatory work supports public protection
Participate in supervised workplace activities and tasks
Learn about career pathways within a regulatory environment
Develop workplace skills such as communication, organisation, and teamwork
Students may also be encouraged to maintain a learning log and may receive a short summary of their placement experience to support future applications and CV development.
What we Offer
We offer a structured one-week programme exposing students to a wide range of areas to give a true flavour of the type of work we deliver.
Throughout the week there will be a series of team-based sessions that are aimed to not only give students an introduction to healthcare regulation disciplines, but also across business services: Registrations, Fitness to Practise, Education, Business Change, HR, Communications, Assurance and Compliance, Governance and IT.
This is to develop a wide understanding of our industry. Students will take part in short tasks, team meetings, work shadowing and interact with colleagues at many levels including senior managers.
We aim to ensure that all work experience placements are:
Purposeful and meaningful, offering real insight into our work
Supervised by a manager or team member who provides guidance and support
Structured with clear expectations and learning outcomes
Designed to provide exposure to different roles and functions across the organisation
The focus of the placement is on learning and development, helping students better understand the world of work and potential future career opportunities.
Safeguarding and Support
We take the safety and wellbeing of students very seriously. All placements are organised in line with our safeguarding and health and safety policies.
Students on placement will:
Be supervised by a named contact within the organisation
Receive an induction to the workplace
Be covered by our organisational insurance
Work in a safe and supportive environment
Departments hosting students ensure appropriate supervision and risk assessments are in place throughout the placement.
What we are looking for
Interested in public protection and making a difference in health and social care
A curious and open-minded thinker who is not afraid to ask questions and explore new ideas and perspectives
A sound communicator who enjoys collaborating with others and working as part of a team
A proactive, positive attitude and a desire to gain real, meaningful experience in a professional environment
How to Apply
As part of our commitment to supporting our local community, we work with schools and colleges in South East London to offer work experience opportunities for students.
If you are interested in taking part in our Work Experience Programme, we recommend that you speak to your school or college careers adviser in the first instance.
Your school or careers adviser can then contact our Learning and Development (L&D) team, who coordinate placements across the organisation and work with education providers to arrange suitable opportunities.
Due to the limited number of placements available each year, early engagement with your school or college is encouraged.
Further information about application timelines and availability will be published on this page each year.
Applications are Now Open for Summer 2026. Please contact learning@hcpc-uk.org