How To Get Work Experience For Engineering as a Student

Written by: Emma Dow

Published

30 August 2025

Contents

If you’re thinking about a career in engineering, you might be keen to get some hands-on experience. But how do you go about finding opportunities when you’re still at school?

Whether you're in Year 10 just starting to explore your options, or Year 13 polishing up your university application, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

Let’s drill down and explore exactly how to get the engineering work experience that'll make you stand out.

Key Takeaways

Work experience is essential in engineering to demonstrate commitment, build transferable skills, and explore different fields.
Opportunities are varied including in-person placements, virtual programmes, competitions, clubs, personal projects, and volunteering.
Make the most of your work experience by asking lots of questions and being curious. Engineers love talking about what they do.

Why Work Experience Matters in Engineering

Work experience isn't just a nice-to-have for engineering – it's absolutely essential. Aerospace? Mechanical? Chemical? It doesn’t matter what sort of engineer you want to be, universities and apprenticeship providers love to see that you've actually tried engineering in the real world.

Getting some engineering work experience as a student shows you're serious about the subject and understand what engineers actually do day-to-day.

And the best bit? If you don’t know what sort of engineering floats your boat quite yet, work experience helps you figure it out.

You might think you want to design cars, then discover you're actually fascinated by robotics. Or perhaps you’ve been dreaming of getting into the renewable energy sector only to find that you have a love for developing incredible biomedical devices to help people.

You'll also pick up loads of transferable skills that'll serve you well wherever your career takes you. Problem-solving, teamwork, and communication are just the start.

What Counts as Engineering Work Experience?

Boosting your CV doesn’t mean that you have to secure a formal two-week placement at a massive engineering firm to gain valuable experience.

Work experience comes in many forms. In-person placements are fantastic, but virtual programmes, personal projects, volunteering, and competitions all count too.

The most important thing is showing that you've put in the effort to find an opportunity to engage with engineering concepts and develop relevant skills. Building a robot at home? Awesome. Volunteering to help fix bikes in your community? That’s great.

Types of Engineering Work Experience Opportunities

In-Person Placements with Engineering Firms

Traditional work experience placements give you some of the best insights into professional engineering life. You'll be part of real projects, meet qualified engineers, and understand how engineering businesses actually work.

Construction companies, civil engineering consultancies, and automotive manufacturers often offer placements for school students. Don’t just contact the big corporations - local firms are sometimes more willing to take on students, so don't overlook smaller businesses in your area.

Start by asking your teachers or careers advisor at school if they have any connections. Then research engineering companies near you and send polite enquiry emails explaining what you're looking for.

Ready to start your search? The Nuffield Foundation (opens in a new tab) is a brilliant platform that connects students with engineering employers across the UK for summer work experience opportunities.

Virtual Engineering Work Experience

Can't find an in-person placement or fancy something home-based? No worries. Virtual work experience programmes are becoming increasingly popular and provide real insight into engineering careers.

Springpod (opens in a new tab) offers free virtual work experience programmes with major engineering employers like Siemens and Amazon.
Forage (opens in a new tab) provides virtual job simulations where you complete real tasks that graduate engineers tackle in their jobs.

These online experiences let you work at your own pace and fit around your school schedule perfectly.

Engineering Insight Days and Taster Courses

If you’re keen to talk to people who work in the engineering sectors, head to an insight day or enrol on a taster course. Universities and industry bodies regularly run these specifically for school students, giving you a great mix of engineering knowledge and hands-on experience.

Hop onto UniTasterDays (opens in a new tab) and you can see a list of loads of engineering taster days to explore at UK universities. There’s bound to be one close to you.

STEM Clubs and Engineering Competitions

If you love robots, problem-solving, and building things, the chances are you might already be part of your school’s STEM club. If you haven’t, join it. This shows incredible initiative and shows that you're going above and beyond what's required in lessons.

The Big Bang (opens in a new tab)celebrates young people's achievements in STEM and runs competitions throughout the year, whereas Greenpower (opens in a new tab) lets you build and race electric cars, combining engineering with environmental awareness.

Get involved with some of these activities and you’ll demonstrate the passion, teamwork skills, and practical problem-solving abilities that universities and employers love to see.

Personal Projects and Independent Learning

Don’t worry if you don’t have a chance to go to a taster day or enter a competition. Some of the most impressive engineering experience comes from projects you tackle independently. These show genuine curiosity and self-motivation.

Could you have a go at coding your own mobile app? Build a Raspberry Pi robot? Help with your school's Design and Technology projects? Maybe you could volunteer to help maintain equipment at a local youth centre or sports club? Or document your journey learning CAD software online?

The key is choosing projects that challenge you and teach you something new about engineering principles.

Where To Find Engineering Work Experience Opportunities

Luckily, you don’t have to go far when searching for engineering work experience opportunities for students. There are several amazing platforms that specialise in just this:

Success at School (opens in a new tab) has a great search function, allowing you to filter results by engineering work experience opportunities.
First Careers (opens in a new tab) has a bank of potential employers that link you directly with work experience opportunities.
The Industrial Cadets (opens in a new tab) offers longer-term placements for school leavers and gap year students. If you’ve completed your A Levels but don’t fancy heading straight to university, perhaps you could explore a work placement in the STEM sector instead?

Remember, you can always ask your teachers for help. They can sometimes make introductions to local companies on your behalf.

And don’t be afraid to contact local engineering companies directly, too. Many are happy to offer short placements or informal visits, even if they don't advertise these opportunities.

How To Apply for Engineering Work Experience

When you're ready to apply, keep your approach professional but friendly. Write a clear, concise email explaining who you are, what you're looking for, and why you're interested in engineering.

Mention any relevant subjects you're studying and what you hope to learn from the experience.

Always attach a CV, even if it's your first one.

Matt Collingwood, a CEO who has hired many school leavers, believes your first contact with an engineering company is a chance to really stand out. He states: “It is important to showcase on your CV where you have participated in clubs, sports and hobbies. All of this can show passion, drive and motivation, which are crucial attributes business owners often look out for.”

Follow up politely if you don't hear back within a couple of weeks. Employers appreciate persistence and enthusiasm.

Making the Most of Your Experience

Once you've secured some work experience, it’s important to get as much as you can out of it. Keep a daily journal noting what you've learned, which tasks you've completed, and which aspects of engineering interest you most.

Engineers love talking about their work, so be curious and ask lots of questions. This helps you to build relationships with the people you meet. They could become valuable contacts for future applications or provide references for university or apprenticeship applications.

Make sure you understand how to describe your experience on UCAS applications or job applications. Focus on specific skills you've developed and insights you've gained about engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age can I start engineering work experience in the UK?

You can start gaining relevant engineering experience from the age of 14-15 or from Year 10 onwards. Some programmes accept younger students, but most formal work experience opportunities are designed for students aged 15 and above.

And many virtual programmes and personal projects can be started at any age, making them perfect for those younger students who want to explore engineering early.

Does virtual work experience count for UCAS or job applications?

Yes, absolutely. Virtual work experience is increasingly recognised by universities and employers as valuable and worthwhile experience. Often, a certificate of completion will be provided, adding credibility to future applications.

The key is being able to articulate what you learned and how the experience developed your understanding of engineering.

Can I do engineering work experience during term time?

It’s possible but it could be challenging to manage the workload. That’s why many engineering work experience opportunities for students are designed for school holidays to avoid disrupting your studies.

Some employers offer flexible arrangements like Saturday morning visits or after-school programmes, while virtual programmes offer the ultimate flexibility and can usually be completed around your schedule.

You should always check with your school before arranging any term-time work experience to ensure it's properly authorised.

Ready to Get Started?

There are tons of ways to get engineering work experience, no matter where you’re starting from. The key is to dive in early and try out different things until you find what really sparks your interest.

Don’t wait for the perfect placement to land in your lap. Kick things off with personal projects, get involved in competitions, or check out virtual programmes while you’re applying for more traditional placements.

And here’s something to keep in mind: every single engineer once stood exactly where you are now. With curiosity, enthusiasm, and a bit of initiative, you’ll be setting yourself up for an exciting career in engineering.