Want to attract young people into exciting digital Built Environment careers?
Invite them to learn from the best in the business – YOU!
And give them a work experience like no other…
OPTION 1: AEC Virtual Work Experience (VWEx)
Our accredited Virtual Work Experience programme provides students with a unique opportunity to complete a work experience placement whether they are based at home or in school.
Get them work-ready
Help them develop key knowledge and employability, technical and business skills required for a professional career in architecture, engineering and construction.
Get them discovering
Working with your organisation’s professional volunteers, they will learn how to tackle challenges to develop people and planet-friendly designs.
Get them creating
They’ll create a digital OR paper-based portfolio that comes with an accredited award – great for CVs and something to show a prospective employer!
Get them engaging
Structured week of interactive activity via our DEC School online platform, accessed by mobile phone, computer, laptop or tablet.
Transforming Work Experience for the Future
Born from necessity during lockdown, COYO’s work experience programmes include Scape’s ‘Learning in Lockdown’, providing 700 young people with virtual access to our real-world projects, supported by industry professionals. This innovative approach ensured students could continue developing vital built environment skills despite the challenges of remote learning.
Since then, our programme has evolved into a leading industry-backed initiative, connecting young people with global AEC professionals. Through hands-on challenges, mentoring and digital collaboration, we empower students with skills in sustainable design, engineering and construction.
Our commitment to real-world impact is reflected in projects like My Climate Path, supported by leading architects AEW, where students tackled net zero challenges for McDonald’s, influencing corporate sustainability strategies.
When the UK Government Property Function contacted us to discuss their challenges to attract young people, we created a bespoke programme, to design a net zero ‘Office for the Future‘ and featured some of the GPF’s own professionals – now you can be ‘who’ you can see!
With industry and government recognition, our model has shaped national initiatives, ensuring future professionals are ready to lead the change.
Today, COYO’s work experience continues to break barriers, offering meaningful, accessible opportunities that inspire young people to build a greener, smarter and more sustainable world.
Class Of Your Own offers students access to a high-quality experience using a combination of engaging short films, presentations and live discussions, all presented on our ‘DEC School‘ learning platform.
Industry professionals can volunteer their time in our schools, knowing they have a captive audience. Sessions are scheduled and structured around your expertise – supported by our helpful ‘how to’ guides.
You’ll help students develop key knowledge, and employability, technical and business skills required for a wide range of professional careers in a people and planet-focused Built Environment.
They produce an exceptional portfolio of work (guided by our helpful template) including a design scheme and a digital and physical model. For those with limited access to computers, we can provide a *paper-based solution too.
By joining our programme, you’re not just shaping future talent, you’re driving real social impact. Your support helps young people develop life-changing skills, and create a more diverse, innovative and sustainable built environment.
Together, we create a win-win future – for students, industry, and the planet.
*National surveys carried out by Ofcom and numerous others discovered that mobile phone ownership is “almost universal” once children are in secondary school and that smartphones are more popular than a computer for going online. COYO is known for the introduction of digital processes in its ‘Design Engineer Construct!’ Learning Programme delivered in secondary schools, but worked closely with schools to ensure that home-learners could dial in safely to mobile conferencing platforms to access professional support. They were also able to present paper-based outcomes to evidence set tasks where necessary. A report from St. Joseph’s Catholic College, Swindon outlines such support.
Government Property Function engages DEC students in workplace design
OPTION 2: AEC Office-based Work Experience
Our five day off-the-shelf programme is designed to help an employer deliver a worthwhile week of work experience in the office. Select one of our DEC Awards as the context for the week – or contact us to design your own bespoke project!
The ‘Work Experience Made Easy’ comprehensive programme framework provides structured guidance for each day. Exercises help students identify their strengths and discover more about a range of technical and professional career paths. Active tasks maintain student interest when meeting staff or work shadowing.
DEC CONNECT AWARDS are entry-level design challenges for learners with little to no experience of the Built Environment – typically, but not exclusively, up to 16 years of age.
DEC EXTEND AWARDS are progressive design challenges for learners with some experience of the Built Environment – typically, but not exclusively, up to 16 years of age.
AEC Work Experience Guide
Our definitive guide was designed to make it as easy as possible for you to provide AEC work experience placements.
Adopted by Build UK and the UK Government Department for Work and Pensions, it ensures employers meet their obligations in providing work experience placements for young people.
