Work Experience and English

Work Experience in London for Erasmus+ students

KKCL is a multi-accredited language school based in London. We are proud to welcome Erasmus+ students to our year-round Harrow centre. We are dedicated to providing quality work-related training and vocational English lessons to visiting Erasmus+ students. Our combination of trusted accommodation, work experience and engaging social activities is sure to guarantee that your group has a successful and enjoyable programme.

We offer a range of accommodation options from leafy homestays to hotel accommodation in the areas surrounding our school and within reach of students’ workplaces. Our Bookings Team will help you to choose the most suitable options to maximise your experience while fitting in with your budget.

Our work experience programme with travel and accommodation costs are eligible for funds from Erasmus+.

Additionally, excursions can be added to the programme enhancing the ‘London’ experience, yet giving you control over the budget for additional tickets or activities.

Give your career a head start in London!

KKCL works with European schools who want to offer a valuable opportunity to their students to gain hands-on experience in their field of studies, and a taste of the day-to-day running of a UK-based company in a real British working environment.

Each group will be allocated a dedicated Work Experience Officer as the first point of contact. Throughout the programme we meet students regularly from their arrival, starting with a full induction, during the work experience period and finally, in a performance review at the end of the programme.

Students matched with a partner company

If you want to get ahead in your career, you should consider doing work experience within the sector you are interested in. This is an invaluable way of gaining the relevant, professional experience and knowledge of a particular industry, as well as potential references. We match each student with one of our partner companies in the London area, based on their profile, academic background, and level of English.

Full and part-time options

Our Work Experience Programme is available in two different options – part-time (15-20 hours per week) and full-time (30-40 hours per week). We specialise in providing a tailor-made programme to suit the students’ needs and cultural background.

Our English courses can be added as part of this Work Experience Programme, allowing students to study an English course at our Harrow school and participate in our part-time Work Experience Programme at the same time.

Tailor-made Programme for students

The timetable can be scheduled to meet any specific requirements. A typical week could be English lessons in the first week, with afternoons free to explore and discover London. Each programme would vary but the minimum length of stay is two weeks. A small number of work experience positions are offered at our Harrow school office.

Study English while doing a placement

Focused English lessons can be arranged in conjunction with the work experience programme. For Erasmus+ students, we offer dedicated vocational English exams in the school, along with engaging work experience and industry visits.

It is possible to do exam preparation alongside the work placement, which will not only bridge the gap between the class and the exam but also prepare students to use English in real-world situations.
All English lessons take place inside KKCL’s Grade II listed building, with its modern facilities including a cafeteria, free Wi-Fi, an IT lab and a relaxing student lounge. As an examination centre for Trinity, Language Cert and TELC, we know these exams inside-out, so your students will be very well prepared for the big day.

Unique Advantage: TELC Vocational English Qualifications

We offer TELC (The European Language Certificates) exams in fields as diverse as Business, Hotel & Restaurant and Technical English for Engineers. Approved by the Association of Language Teachers in Europe and based on the real-world communication skills set out in the Common European Framework of Reference, TELC is a truly reliable statement of a student’s language proficiency.

Vocational Skills Workshop / Seminars

In addition to our English courses, we also offer industry-related workshops and seminars. These give students valuable insight into their chosen fields, while factory visits give a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of some of the world’s most famous corporations.

Student Support and Welfare

KKCL has comprehensive welfare policies and procedures – reviewed by both the British Council and the Independent Schools Inspectorate – and a team of dedicated staff who do their very best to ensure the safety and well-being of our students. Students carry a 24-hour emergency telephone number at all times.

Our Work Experience Officers are here to assist students and group leaders throughout the entire programme, from pre-arrival preparation to the final performance review.
In each workplace, there will be one main contact person who is responsible for introducing the students to their working role and supporting them where needed as their Line Manager.

We will also provide preparatory material as part of the induction on arrival, and our Work Experience Officer will be on hand to give practical advice on how to deal with different situations in the workplace. One To One mentoring sessions at KKCL will be scheduled to ensure all the students are settling in and given helpful guidance on how to be successful within their chosen role.

What do you achieve upon completing this programme?

At the end of the programme, all students will be given a Work Experience Completion Certificate certifying the date, duration and host company name of their work experience, and a reference letter issued by KKCL detailing the description of their work experience position and activities performed during the programme.

Who is eligible?

• European nationals*
• Aged 16+
• Reasonable English level – i.e. CEFR A2 / B1 level. You should be able to use English in familiar/everyday situations
• Able to participate in our programme for a minimum of 2 weeks

*All EU Member States are included in the programme, as well as Iceland, Turkey, Macedonia, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Why KKCL for Erasmus+ Work Experience Programme?

• Tailor-made programme to fit students’ needs
• Links with local businesses providing appropriate work placements
• A full suite of vocational English TELC exams
• Experienced TELC examiners as part of our academic team
• Final reports for each student
• Private space for Group Leaders to prepare documentation
• Experience with Erasmus documentation + tenders
• Industry visits to local, national and multinational companies around the UK

What is Erasmus+?

Erasmus+ is the EU funding programme for education, training, youth and sport, and replaces all previous funding programmes such as Comenius, Leonardo Da Vinci and Grundtvig. As part of the Lifelong Learning Programme, grants are available to enable students to participate in a work experience programme in a country other than the country in which they normally live. This funding is administered by National Agencies who represent the European Commission in each EU member state.

All Erasmus+ applications must be made through your school or institution, and can only be made provided they have a partner abroad who is able to receive their students. Individual grants are still available, but the application must go through your school.

Erasmus+ (Key Action 1: Mobility of Individuals) is the funding programme available for all EU nationals. Please refer to the Erasmus+ website for deadline and further details regarding Erasmus+ funding that is available for this programme:

https://erasmusplus.org.uk/

At KKCL, we offer work placements in these fields:

• Business Administration
• Retail / Customer Service
• Hospitality & Catering
• Health & Social Care
• Information Technology (IT)
• Media
• Beauty & Hairdressing
• Accounting & Finance
• Human Resources
• Event Management
• Marketing / PR
• Education
• Engineering
• Electronics – computer repairs
• Graphic Design
• Interior Design
• Architecture
• Tourism / Travel Agency
• Mechanics / Mechatronics (Subject to availability)
• Mechanic – car repairs (Subject to availability)