Open Door

Experience that works for you

Open Door is a structured work experience placement programme for Wolverhampton residents aged 18 and over.

It offers unemployed Wolverhampton residents who are actively job seeking work experience placements to enhance their employability and develop their skills.

What we do:

Open Door aims to provide on the job ‘real’ work experience.

Work experience placements will be provided with a variety of employers across the city, including City of Wolverhampton Council.

Placements will be:

Flexible to suit the needs of the candidate and employer.
A minimum of 4 weeks to a maximum of 12 weeks.
Between 10-25 hours per week.

Benefits:

There are many benefits to gaining up to date work experience, including:

The opportunity to experience a real-life working environment.
Opening future employment and education opportunities.
Building confidence, skills, and knowledge.
Gaining useful contacts in relevant areas.
Receiving a reference for future opportunities.
The potential to apply for jobs within the organisation.

What we offer

Open Door offers the following:

Find the work experience placements.
Complete all relevant checks for work placements with the employer, such as health and safety risk assessments.
Ensure that you have a structured work plan whilst on placement.
Keep in touch with you whilst you are on placement.
Provide mentoring guidance, advice, feedback, and continuous support during your placement.
Refer to our Wolves at Work service, who can provide one to one employability support and careers advice.
Support you to access relevant training courses.
Signpost you to relevant financial support.
Support with CV development and interview skills.

Am I eligible?:

Eligible candidates will be:

18 and over. *
A Wolverhampton resident. **
Unemployed.
Actively job seeking.

(College or university student seeking a work placement while studying, should contact us for referral to relevant services)

*If you are under 18 and looking for Work Experience, please make contact through Workbox for further support.

**We are working in partnership with Staffordshire Jobs & Careers. If you are from Staffordshire, you can apply to their Open Door programme. You can find out more details here.

Where we are based:

Open Door
Civic Centre,
St Peters Square,
Wolverhampton,
WV1 1SH

Contact us

Telephone: 01902 552690
Email: opendoor@wolverhampton.gov.uk

FAQs

Will I get paid?

All placements are unpaid. However, the benefits of completing a placement and gaining hands on work experience are invaluable.

Will I secure paid work once I have completed the placement?

We cannot guarantee that you will secure paid work at the end of placement, however your employability skills will be enhanced, you will be able to put the work experience on your CV and gain a reference from the employer.

What if I don’t enjoy my placement?

Contact the Open Door team. You will have support every step of the way and solutions can be found.

What if I am ill while on placement?

Let the employer and Open Door team know as soon as you can and before you are due to start work where possible.

I am not a Wolverhampton resident, can I apply?

Unfortunately, we are only able to offer placements to Wolverhampton residents. Your household must be in the City of Wolverhampton. We are working in partnership with Staffordshire Jobs & Careers. If you are from Staffordshire, you can apply to their Open Door programme. You can find out more details here.

I am employed, can I apply?

At this stage we are only supporting residents who are unemployed in the city.

I am not claiming any benefits, can I apply?

Yes, if you are classed as unemployed and a Wolverhampton resident you can apply for a placement, irrespective of if you are claiming benefits or not. We can also put you in touch with one of our welfare rights officers, so they can advise you on what benefits you may be entitled to claim.

I have special educational needs (SEND), can I apply?

Yes, our placements are open to all backgrounds. If you are 18 plus, unemployed and a Wolverhampton resident, you may apply.

I have an educational health care plan (EHCP), can I apply?

Yes, our placements are open to all backgrounds. If you are 18 plus, unemployed and a Wolverhampton resident, you may apply.

Can I complete more than one placement?

Yes. Once you have completed your first placement, if you wish to proceed with a further placement, we can support you with this and will try our utmost to help you secure a further placement. (Max of 3 placements in total).

Am I able to claim expenses?

Currently, we have no additional funding to support with expenses for placements.

Working in Partnership with Staffordshire Jobs & Careers