Work Experience for a Teacher

“As a teacher and leader of Design & Technology, I believe it's essential to stay connected with industry practices to better inform and inspire my students. 
 
The Three Spires Trust has an initiative where they will allow up to two days for staff to visit an industry placement, so I had the fantastic opportunity to take part in a work-based placement at Barkers Fencing in Stoke-on-Trent that We Build Bridges CIC organised and made the whole process a lot easier! 
 
During my visit, I was able to gain valuable insights into several key areas of the business: 

Health & Safety Team: Understanding the critical role they play in ensuring a safe working environment, especially in a manufacturing setting. 
 
Sales Team: Exploring how customer needs are translated into effective fencing solutions through their use of different programs, spreadsheets, and their dedication to delivering great premium service to customers. 
 
Marketing Team: Understanding the purpose and push of reaching new clients or projects that Barkers can get involved with. 
 
Drawing Team: I had the opportunity to work with the drawing team, who explained the process of changing and adapting proposals to suit client needs, both at the beginning and throughout the project. 
 
Factory Floor Operations: I witnessed key processes such as galvanizing, powder coating, and various fabrication methods.  
Seeing these techniques first-hand was incredibly insightful and a rare sight to see, as Barkers is one of the few facilities in the country that houses all these valuable manufacturing methods on one site. 
 
Finance Team and Purchasing Team: Learning how budgeting, costing and supply chain management contribute to the smooth running of the business. 
 

An Eye-Opening Experience for a Teacher 

This placement was an eye-opening experience that highlighted the real-world applications of what I teach in my lessons. It reinforced the importance of bridging the gap between education and industry, ensuring students develop the skills and knowledge required in the modern workforce. It also emphasized that every business is unique, offering more than just my subject background — showcasing areas of importance and interest to students outside of the "practical" view of engineering. 
 
A huge thank you to Simon Watts and the Barkers Fencing team for their warm welcome and for allowing me to gain such valuable insights. I’m excited to bring this experience back to my students and help them understand the value of a work experience visit and the different avenues and aspects they can take away for both themselves and their CV. 
 
I encourage anyone in an education-facing role to step back, possibly visit a work-experience placement pupil or even take part in one — you will gain so much!’ 

This is an edited version of John’s original post on LinkedIn 

*Karen Barker and Barkers share the same name but have no family connection.