Unit 27 Work Experience in Business Assignment Brief 2026 | Pearson

Unit 27 Work Experience in Business Assignment Brief

Unit in brief

Learners study the benefits of work experience in business. They reflect on their practical workplace skills by completing forty hours of appropriate work experience.

Unit introduction

Are you thinking about a career in business and would like to gain experience to prepare for the kind of job you would like to do? Work-related learning opens your eyes to a range of opportunities in business. It gives you first-hand practical experience and the chance to see what a variety of different jobs are really like, including some you may never have considered. It will give you a means of documenting practical experience, planning for personal and professional development and reflecting on your own skills.

In this practical unit, you will learn about different types of work-related learning and their benefits. You will learn what information you need before starting the placement, and how the placement can help you to develop key competencies needed for employability, such as self-management, team working, problem-solving and communication skills. You will learn more about the expectations of different roles. You will research and take on relevant work experience, and evaluate your performance through a reflective journal.

Work experience is highly valued by employers for a variety of careers in the business sector; employers are looking to recruit those who have some knowledge of the world of work. A record of your work experience is also an advantage for higher education level study and courses.

Learning Aims

In this unit you will:

A Investigate opportunities for work-related learning
B Carry out work experience in an appropriate and safe manner
C Reflect on work experience undertaken and its influence on own personal and professional development.

Summary of unit

Content

Learning aim A: Investigate opportunities for work-related learning

A1 Work-related learning (a minimum of 40 hours in total is required)

• Work experience opportunities, work placement: a period of work experience arranged with an employer.
• Voluntary work: any type of work undertaken for no payment.
• Part-time work: paid or unpaid work undertaken.

A2 Outcomes and benefits of work experience

• Clarifying career goals.
• Gaining insight into the way businesses operate and the challenges they face.
• Increasing skills and knowledge.
• Networking.
• Understanding a particular job or industry.
• Gaining referees.
• Attending in-house training courses.

A3 Planning for work experience

• Opportunities for work experience.
• Gaining information about the business, e.g. company leaflets, brochures or website, learners who have previously been on a work placement at the same business, staff from the business, conversation or correspondence with business.
• Key information, e.g. hours of work, absence procedures, dress code, practical considerations such as DBS checks.
• Application process.

Learning aim B: Carry out work experience in an appropriate and safe manner

B1 Induction

• Information about the business, e.g. structure, features.
• Work placement roles.
• Health and safety responsibilities, e.g. evacuation procedures, first-aid procedures, reporting hazards.
• Reporting absence and late arrival.
• Confidentiality.
• Shadowing.

B2 Role and tasks

• Carrying out activities within the extent and limitations of role and responsibilities.
• Understanding how the role will develop key competencies needed for employability, e.g. self-management, teamwork, problem-solving, communication skills.
• Following instructions.
• Communicating with others.
• Self-management.
• Appropriate interaction.

B3 Working safely

• Identifying potential risks and hazards, e.g. slipping on wet floor, tripping over trailing wires, loud noise resulting in hearing loss, breathing in toxic substances.
• Personal safe conduct, e.g. applying organisational procedures, following and upholding health and safety rules, safe lifting, applying guidelines from training manual, following dress codes, personal safety equipment.

Learning aim C: Reflect on work experience undertaken and its influence on own personal and professional development

C1 Learning from work placement

• Reflection on knowledge gathered:
  o knowledge of new vocational area or area of interest
  o confirming whether or not to work in a particular sector or industry
  o to find out further information about a particular career, industry or business.
• Reflection on skills used and gained.
• Personal skills:
  o communication
  o problem solving
  o self-confidence
  o assertiveness
  o flexibility
  o positive approach.
• Work skills:
  o IT
  o teamwork
  o note taking
  o meeting attendance
  o punctuality
  o telephone/online manner
  o business and customer awareness
  o following instructions.
• Reflection on experiences gathered:
  o identifying what went well and what could be improved
  o challenges faced
  o problems arising and how these were overcome or resolved.

C2 Using feedback and setting goals

• Feedback from tutors, supervisors, mentors and peers, e.g. identifying areas of positive and constructive feedback, highlighting areas for improvement.
• Setting goals for personal and professional development, e.g. short-term, long-term, personal, work-related goals, skills development, qualifications targeted.

Assessment Criteria

Essential Information for Assignments

The recommended structure of assessment is shown in the unit summary along with suitable forms of evidence. Section 6 gives information on setting assignments and there is further information on our website.

There is a maximum number of two summative assignments for this unit. The relationship of the learning aims and criteria is:

Learning aims: A and B (A.P1, A.P2, B.P3, B.P4, A.M1, B.M2, A.D1, B.D2)

Learning aim: C (C.P5, C.P6, C.M3, C.D3)

Further Information for Teachers and Assessors

Resource Requirements

A work placement is necessary (a minimum of 40 hours in total is required).

Essential Information for assessment decisions

Learning aims A and B

For distinction standard, learners will carry out in-depth research and select relevant evidence to show how they chose an appropriate work experience opportunity. Learners will successfully use a variety of research techniques, choose and procure an appropriate placement, and produce a fully supported evaluation of the benefits of the placement. Learners will evaluate the health and safety in their placement businesses and make recommendations for any required improvements.

For merit standard, learners will select and apply relevant knowledge of work experience. Learners will demonstrate clear analysis of the benefits of work experience and how it can support them in gaining a realistic understanding of opportunities in business. They will also clearly explain the importance of carrying out their role in their chosen work experience in a safe and appropriate manner.

For pass standard, learners will carry out research that allows them to initially describe appropriate work experience opportunities and how they prepared for the work experience.

Learning aim C

For distinction standard, learners will carry out in-depth reflection on their work experience and its benefits for their career in the future. Learners will come to a reasoned conclusion, supported by relevant evidence and feedback from others, as to their strengths and weaknesses and reflect on opportunities for improvement.

For merit standard, learners will reflect to show that they have assessed the workplace skills they have demonstrated and, listening to the feedback from others, the skills they will need in future workplaces. Learners will be able to successfully support their assessment with examples from the work experience.

For pass standard, learners will reflect to show an understanding of the skills needed in the workplace, both personal and professional, and use the feedback gained to suggest goals for improvement.

Links to other Units

This unit links with all other units in the specification.

Employer Involvement

Centres may involve employers in the delivery of this unit if there are local opportunities.

This unit would benefit from employer involvement in the form of:

• guest speakers
• work experience
• business materials as exemplars
• support from local business staff as mentors.

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