Leaving education to enter the world of work is daunting.

The workplace is a totally different environment to the confines of the classroom, but in a society where apprenticeships are once again valued, work experience is being lauded as one of the best starts to a young person’s working life.

A report by Ofsted found those with previous experience were more likely to make good progress in their apprenticeships than those starting straight from school.

Providers surveyed in the best practice report said that good training in key and functional skills such as English and maths was seen as more relevant by young people when it was put into context and used in relation to the skills associated with an apprenticeship, and helped them to see the real benefits of improving them.

The research found that work experience in the area that interested the young person was seen as a positive force in equipping them with an appropriate work ethic and basic employment skills.

Meanwhile, employers and trainers felt that the most important attributes of a potential apprentice were the right attitude and commitment to employment.

Apprenticeships play a key role in the Government’s strategy to develop the skills of the workforce and to promote the growth and rebalancing of the nation’s economy.

Ofsted’s national director for learning and skills, Matthew Coffey said: “There has been much concern lately about the quality of apprenticeships.

“When looking at the national picture we can see that around 70 per cent of apprenticeships are good or outstanding, but more needs to be done to improve provision further.”

“It is clear that more work experience, vocational study and course tasters are needed to ensure learners are on the right apprenticeship for them and that they understand the demands of work.”

Anne-Marie Taylor, employment and skills delivery manager for Bradford Council’s Regeneration and Culture Department Employment and Skills, says: “It goes without saying that any kind of a taster of work experience will raise the understanding for a young person, but it is about the individual in how well they progress.”

Anne-Marie agrees the key element to success is the relationship between the skills provider, the employer and the young person. “Part of the major aspect of your success, your quality of provision, is having that triangulation of activity between those three.

“You are talking to the individual about what they have been doing, the employer is supporting what they are doing and you need to gradually build up the skills and knowledge.”

Bradford Chamber of Commerce president, Stephen Wright, who runs Bradford-based pneumatics company, Thorite, says: “We would agree with the view that, whatever additional knowledge and experience young people have of the world of work before they actually start a job, is beneficial.

“More and more employers are saying that school-leavers are under-prepared for work, either in specific skills or in attitude, so the more experience and information that they can glean should benefit them for not only apprenticeships, but other career paths aswell.

“However, while we know that there are safety factors involved in work experience, it should, where possible, be made easier to organise placements through reduced red tape.”

Jenny Cryer, senior operations manager with Prospects Services Ltd in Bradford, which delivers programmes for young people, says: “Young people and employers tell us that when they have work experience they are more prepared for what to expect when they start work and especially how to fit into the work place. Starting an apprenticeship is a big step for a young person and if they have had a taste of the work first, then they are more likely to succeed. We run very successful programmes for young people who are employed on behalf of the Princes’ Trust which include work experience and we know from these programmes that it is the work experience that helps young people to have the confidence to move on successfully into work, training or college.”

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “We know the value of work experience, which is why we are creating an extra 250,000 places for 18 to 24-year-olds over the next three years as part of the Youth Contract.

“Work experience has already given thousands of young and long-term unemployed people a break, giving them practical hands-on experience and boosting their chances of getting a permanent job or an apprenticeship.”