High School Programmes 2026
| Company | Location | Duration | Last Year's Opening | Opening Date | Deadline | Status | Process | Notes | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🚀 AEROSPACE & DEFENSE | |||||||||
BAE BAE Systems | UK (various) | 1 Week | Jan 2026 | Upcoming | Application | Engineering Taster Weeks (for 14-16 year olds, typically runs in March/April). Get hands-on with real projects. Check site for 2026 dates and application opening. | Apply | ||
CAA Civil Aviation Authority |
Virtual (Online) | ~7 hours (Self-Paced) | Open Now | Upcoming | Registration | Lift Off Programme via Springpod. Covers Aviation, Space, Drones, and STEM careers in regulation. For Years 10-13. | Apply | ||
BA British Airways | London (HQ) | 1-5 Days | Nov 2025 | Upcoming | Application | Work Experience Placements (Years 10/S4 and above) and Insight Days (Year 9/S3 and above). Focuses on engineering, flying, customer service, and business. | Apply | ||
MB MBDA | UK (various) | 2-5 Days | Jan 2026 | Upcoming | Application | Work Experience/Insight Schemes for Year 12/13. Exposure to Engineering & Technology, which includes Systems and Control. Check their early careers page for 2026 dates. | Apply | ||
AIR Airbus UK | Virtual (Online) | Self-Paced | Open Now | Upcoming | Registration | Aerospace Virtual Work Experience via Springpod. Explore career opportunities in engineering and business at Airbus. Excellent for Years 11-13. | Apply | ||
BOE Boeing UK | UK (Various In-Person) | 1 Week | Jan 2026 | Upcoming | Application | Boeing UK occasionally offers short Insight Days or limited Work Experience placements for school-aged students. Check their Early Careers section often. | Apply | ||
RR Rolls-Royce | Derby/Bristol (In-Person) | 1 Week | Early 2026 | Upcoming | Application | Year 12 Insight Events/Work Experience focused on engineering (Civil Aerospace, Defence). These are typically short, competitive, and linked to local schools. | Apply | ||
GKN GKN Aerospace | UK Sites (Est.) | 1 Week | Jan 2026 | Upcoming | Application | GKN runs short Work Experience placements for school students (Yrs 11-13) at their major manufacturing sites. Keep checking site for details. | Apply | ||
LMC Lockheed Martin UK | UK (various) | 1 Week | Early 2026 | Upcoming | Application / School Contact | School Work Experience is highly limited and competitive. They focus on students from local partner schools. Roles include Systems, Software, and Mechanical Engineering. Must check site often. | Apply | ||
| ⚙️ MECHANICAL | |||||||||
BE Bentley Motors | Crewe (In-Person) | 1 Week | May 2026 | Upcoming | Application | Work Experience Programme for 16-18 year olds (Years 11-13). Behind-the-scenes look at manufacturing, engineering, and luxury automotive brand operations. | Apply | ||
LO Lotus Cars | Norwich (In-Person) | 4 Days | Jan 2026 | Upcoming | Application | Immersive Work Experience at the Lotus Learning Academy for students aged 14-18. Hands-on activities in a simulated working environment. | Apply | ||
IMI IMI Work Experience | UK (Various In-Person) | Varies | Early 2026 | Upcoming | Matching Service | The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) connects students with local automotive employers offering hands-on placements (Years 11-13). | Apply | ||
| 🔧 MULTI-ROLE OPENINGS | |||||||||
LEO Leonardo | UK (various) | ~1 Week | Jan 2026 | Upcoming | Application | Work Experience for GCSE and A-Level students (Years 10-12). Involves projects in Electrical, Mechanical, Systems, and more. 2026 details to be published soon. | Apply | ||
SI Siemens UK | Virtual (Online) | 2 Weeks (Self-Paced) | Open Now | Upcoming | Registration | Virtual Work Experience Programme via Springpod. Covers Engineering, Technology, Sustainability, and Digital. Highly recommended for Yrs 10-13. | Apply | ||
AT AtkinsRéalis | Virtual (Online) | Self-Paced | Open Now | Upcoming | Registration | Virtual Work Experience Programme via Springpod. Covers Engineering, Digital, and Design roles across Infrastructure and Consultancy. Excellent for Yrs 11-13. | Apply | ||
AM Amazon Robotics | Virtual (Online) | Self-Paced | Open Now | Upcoming | Registration | Amazon Career Tour: Robotics Fulfilment Centre via Springpod. Insight into the engineering and technology supporting logistics and robotics. | Apply | ||
EDF EDF Energy | Virtual (Online) | Self-Paced | Open Now | Upcoming | Registration | Virtual Work Experience via Springpod. Focus on the energy sector, including Nuclear, Renewables, and Engineering. Great for Electrical/Control Systems. | Apply | ||
TH Thales UK | Crawley/Reading | 1 Week | Early 2026 | Upcoming | Application | Focus on Systems, Software, and Hardware engineering. They offer a Virtual Work Ex but often host in-person work experience for local school students. | Apply | ||
NG National Grid | UK (Various In-Person) | 1 Week | Early 2026 | Upcoming | Application | Work Experience programmes for Year 10-13 students, often focused on Electrical, Civil, and Gas Engineering, and infrastructure projects. | Apply | ||
GSK GSK | UK Sites (In-Person) | 1 Week | Early 2026 | Upcoming | Application | GSK offers Work Experience focused on the technical/engineering side of pharmaceutical manufacturing (Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering). Also try GSK Get Ahead | Apply | ||
BO Bosch UK | UK (various) | 1 Week | Early 2026 | Upcoming | Application | Bosch (Automotive, Power Tools, Home Appliances) offers Work Experience in engineering, research, and manufacturing at select UK locations. | Apply | ||
TFL Transport for London (TfL) | Virtual (Online) | Self-Paced | Open Now | Upcoming | Registration | TfL runs a Work Experience Programme for school-age students, providing insight into Civil, Electrical, and Systems Engineering in the transport sector. Also try the Innovate TfL coompetition. | Apply | ||
SO Science Oxford | Oxford | 1 Week | 22 April 2026 | Upcoming | Application | STEM Insight Days with Science Oxford offers secondary school students hands-on experience exploring careers in engineering, climate, and wider STEM through workshops, site visits, and interactions with industry professionals. Participants gain insight into real-world STEM challenges, develop practical skills, and learn about future study and career pathways in science and technology. | Apply | ||
| 🏎️ FORMULA ON & AUTOMOTIVE | |||||||||
WI Williams Racing | Grove, Oxfordshire (In-Person) | 5 Days | Feb 2026 (Two-Week Window) | Upcoming | Application → Video | Work Experience for students in Years 10 to 13 (ages 14 to 18). Focus on engineering, design, and operations. Highly competitive. | Notify | ||
LI Lithia UK | UK (various) | 1-2 weeks | Check Site | Upcoming | Application → Interview | Work Experience for students in Years 10 to 13 (ages 14 to 18) across 25 companies in the automotive industry. Focus on engineering, design, and operations. Highly competitive, with vacancies opening at various points throughout the year. | Apply | ||
| 🏭 OTHER | |||||||||
NU Nuffield Research Placements | UK (various) | 4-6 Weeks | Nov/Dec 2025 | Upcoming | Application → Selection | Paid placements for Year 12 students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths). Projects with host organisations (e.g., universities, companies). Apply through STEM Learning. | Apply | ||
HO Horiba |
Nuneaton | 1 week | 14 Jan 2026 | Upcoming | Application → Selection | Gain hands-on exposure to real-world engineering at HORIBA MIRA, a global leader in automotive engineering, testing, and simulation, working across advanced mobility, propulsion, and vehicle technologies. Learn alongside industry experts, explore state-of-the-art test facilities, and receive early career guidance within one of the UK’s leading automotive R&D environments. | Apply | ||
UA UK Atomic Energy Authority |
UK (various) | 1 week | Jan 2026 | Upcoming | Application → Phone Interview → Face-to-Face Interview | Spend a year gaining hands-on engineering experience at UKAEA, working on real-world fusion projects such as MAST-U, STEP, and JET decommissioning. You’ll support design, analysis, and equipment qualification using industry-standard tools, while developing technical and professional skills alongside experienced engineers. | Notify | ||
In2 In2STEM Programme | UK (various) | Virtual & In-person | Nov 2025 | Upcoming | Application → Interview | Work placement programme for 16-19 year olds (Year 12) from low socioeconomic backgrounds who are interested in STEM. Runs July-August. | Apply | ||
ICL Imperial College London | London | 5 Days | 12 Jan 2026 | Upcoming | Application | Year 10/12 Work Experience Programme for state school students. Provides insight into research in various departments, including Engineering. | Apply | ||
IC EDT Virtual Work Ex | Virtual (Online) | Varies | CHeck Site | Upcoming | Registration | Bronze & Silver Virtual Work Experience programmes in collaboration with leading STEM companies (e.g., Airbus, GSK). For students aged 14 to 18 (Yrs 10-13). | Apply | ||
UOY Uni of York Engineering | Hybrid (Online + In-Person) | 5 Days | Oct 2025 | Upcoming | Application | Year 12 Work Experience in Physics, Engineering, and Technology. 4 days virtual, 1 day on campus. Tailor your mini-project to engineering. | Apply | ||
IN Young Engineer Summer | London (In-Person/Residential) | 1-2 Weeks | Open Now | Upcoming | Booking/Payment | Paid (Fee-based) summer school (Yrs 10-12) with career simulations and site visits with professionals from companies like Rolls-Royce. Start dates July/Aug 2026. | Apply | ||
BH Buro Happold | UK Offices (In-Person) | 1 Week (Est.) | Early 2026 | Upcoming | Application | Offers Work Experience in Structural, Civil, and Building Services Engineering. High-profile projects in London, Bath, and other major cities. | Apply | ||