The Badge That Tells the Story
The Badge That Tells the Story: Why Work Experience and Internships Matter More Than Ever.
As Youth Employment Week comes to an end, I felt the need to write a piece, as there’s no better time to highlight and celebrate the role that work experience and internships play in preparing young people for meaningful careers and the world of work. For many, these opportunities are the first step into the working world and a chance to test and explore their interests, build confidence, and develop essential skills that don’t always show up on a CV.
Throughout my 15 years supporting young people into work, training and education I have often seen some work experience treated as a tick-box exercise — a week in a workplace, a shadowing session, or a short internship that leaves little behind once it ends.
I always feel that young people are often short changed after making that big step and I have often thought how it could be different. I now find myself in a very exciting place with Social Impact Software where I can now shine a light on recognising learning and achievement through digital credentials and badges.
The Power of Structured, Recognised Work Experience and What Great Internships Can Do.
When internships and work experience placements are planned, supported, and recognised, they become more than just something to get through or complete.They become a launchpad.
Young people gain confidence in navigating a workplace. I think it's great that they gain real insight into what they enjoy but often there is a lot of value in identifying what they don’t enjoy and is invaluable when first exploring the world of work.
Transferable skills like communication, reliability, and teamwork can be seen or identified as a building block for development and this can spark motivation and purpose around future learning and employment.
Employers benefit too! Not just for a quick social media op, tick box or contractual outcome, but by spotting future talent early, contributing to local skills pipelines, and shaping their own recruitment pathways. This can create a huge economic shift in the way young people enter the workforce.
Sounds all very nice and positive, but how does it move across into a real pathway for future learning, personal development and promote youth employment?
Making Experience Count with Digital Credentials
This is where digital credentials and badges make all the difference.
Too often, the value of work experience is lost the moment it ends. I have worked with hundreds of young people, many with and without qualifications or experience and both often lack the confidence in articulating what they learned. Some young people have never started anything in their life, and many more have never finished anything, so this creates a confidence barrier and a gap for development. This is very often one of the biggest barriers careers advisors or support services are faced with when supporting young people into work.
………A digital badge changes that.
With a well-designed badge, young people can evidence what they did. The tasks they completed, behaviours shown, skills developed. Learners can reflect on what they learned and turn experience into growth. The achievement is there forever, it's validated, can be referenced to, and is a solid record of learning and experience.
I love that learners can share their achievements easily with future employers or educators via with Credsuite with platforms like My Skills Pass, LinkedIn or a skills portfolio. Young people can start building a skills portfolio from their very first day of work experience or internship, rather than leaving it all behind on the way out of the work experience/ internship door.
Without a Badge
Yes i did a weeks work experience with X care home it was good fun, we got to play games with the residents, i think it was June 2025
With a Badge
Issued June2025: This learner demonstrated punctuality, teamwork and initiative during their 10 day internship at X care setting. They participated in planning sessions, took part in daily care routines, and received feedback from supervisors. They supported residents with social activities and gained an insight into care plans and care routines.
It’s specific, verifiable, and starts telling a story about that young person’s potential.
I know which option sounds more valuable!
Reforming Work Experience with Credsuite
By pairing internships and work placements with digital recognition, we change the narrative. It’s no longer just "a week in an office or space" — it becomes an achievement that contributes to a young person’s long-term journey.
Yes its Youth Employment Week, but I want to continue the conversation
Are we giving young people experiences that build confidence and employability?
Are we helping them recognise the value of what they’ve done?
Are we making that learning visible and portable for their future?
Are organisations equipped to ensure their work experience and internships are valuable and meaningful
Thank You
I would like to end on a thankyou for the great collaboration and conversations this week about adding value to internships and work experience , thanks to Mark Trewin at The Focus training group, this week completing a cohort of young people on their gas and electrical engineering work experience programme, they are all getting digital badges to highlight their learning!
Also thanks to Niki March from Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, her feedback, ideas and implementation have been a catalyst to how digital badges and credentials are implemented and developed within internships and I look forward to continued conversations and development. Also a mention for Ed Hart and Leanne Llewellyn who are championing inclusive and valuable work experience and volunteering opportunities at Liskeard Library using badges to recognise their placements.
Let’s keep working together to ensure every young person not only gains experience—but sees its value, owns their learning, and can take it with them.
Lets Talk
If you’re interested in how Credsuite or digital credentials can support your organisation I would love to chat.