The UK is facing a youth employment crisis that demands urgent attention. More than a million young people are currently out of work and with the after-effects of COVID-19, the rise of AI, and structural shifts in the labour market creating barriers that an entire generation is struggling to overcome, meaningful work experience plays a vital role in addressing this crisis.
Work Experience programmes help young people build confidence, develop essential skills, and make informed decisions about their futures. For those facing significant barriers to employment, structured work experience can be transformative.
For years the Social Value TOM System has helped organisations measure the Social Value created by work placements for those Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs)
We're pleased to announce the release of five new Measures in the Social Value TOM System that capture the full breadth of Work Experience programmes.
The new Measures
NT131: Meaningful Unpaid Work Experience
This Measure captures the profound impact of opening your doors to individuals who need that crucial first step into the working world. These placements – lasting between one week and eight consecutive weeks – are designed for people facing barriers to employment who need relevant experience to unlock their chosen career path.
What makes it meaningful? Structured support and reflection, intentional design that ensures equity and inclusion, and the chance to apply essential skills that employers value.
What does the TOM System proxy for this measure capture?
The Social Value proxy reflects the ripple effect of opportunity. When someone gains meaningful work experience, they gain increased likelihood of securing sustained employment, with all the dignity, financial security, and social connection that brings.
NT132: Meaningful Paid Work Placements or Internships
These paid placements – lasting from four weeks to six months – represent a deeper commitment to developing someone's potential.
When designed thoughtfully, these placements help individuals develop not just technical skills but the confidence, networks, and professional experience that transform career trajectories.
What does the TOM System proxy for this measure capture?
The Social Value proxy recognises both the immediate dignity of fair pay and the longer-term impact of structured professional development.
NT133: Personalised Career Pathway Programmes
This Measure recognises the transformative power of personalised support that helps young people in Key Stage 4 and beyond explore their futures with confidence and clarity.
Qualifying programmes – from shadowing and mentoring to discovery programmes and industry sessions – give students the chance to connect their studies with real-world possibilities. Lasting between one day and two weeks, personalised support expands horizons, builds self-awareness, and helps young people see themselves in futures they might never have imagined.
What does the TOM System proxy for this measure capture?
The Social Value proxy for this measure recognises the transformative impact of structured shadowing, mentoring, discovery programmes, careers guidance and skills-focused tasks that encourage active participation and self-reflection through online or in-person sessions.
NT134: Exposure to Career Pathways Through Group Programmes
Sometimes, the spark that ignites a young person's ambition comes from a single powerful conversation, an inspiring workplace visit, or a taster day that shows them what's possible.
In a world where who you know often determines what opportunities you can access, these programmes democratise exposure, ensuring that a student's postcode or background doesn't limit their understanding of what's possible.
What does the Social Value proxy for this measure capture?
This Measure captures the value of career exposure opportunities: career fairs, corporate presentations, workplace visits, and online sessions lasting from one hour to one day that break down barriers to employment opportunities.
NT135: Support for Initiatives to Enhance T-Levels
T-Levels combine rigorous classroom learning with substantial industry placements. This Measure recognises the additional support that transforms a good T-Level experience into an exceptional one – the transport that ensures a learner from a low-income background can reach their placement, the equipment that enables them to work to industry standards, the mentoring that helps them navigate their first professional environment.
What does the Social Value proxy for this measure capture?
The proxy for this measure reflects the pound-for-pound equivalent in value of the resources dedicated to supporting T-Levels beyond what’s covered by government funding.
These new Measures help organisations demonstrate impact credibly and consistently. Each includes robust, evidence-based social value proxies drawing on data from the Office for National Statistics, Department for Work and Pensions, Public Health England, and other official sources.
Available now
All five Measures are available immediately in the Social Value TOM System at no additional cost to existing customers.
Not yet a Social Value Portal member?
These new Measures are just one example of how the Social Value TOM System continues to evolve to meet the needs of organisations committed to creating positive social impact. Becoming a Social Value Portal member gives you full access to all of the Social Value TOM System measures and all new measures, as well as access to the Social Value Portal Platform for procurement and evaluations, bidding, measurement and contract management and reporting.
👉 Book a discovery call with our team to explore how Social Value Portal membership can help you measure, manage, and maximise your Social Value delivery.
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