Work experience

We believe that offering work experience placements to young people is a great way for them to gain an insight into the important and interesting work that The National Archives does.

Work experience with Document Services

What we offer

The Document Services department offers a placement scheme to young people aged 14 to 18. Placements are for five days (Monday to Friday).

A structured work placement is a chance to learn more about what it is like to work in an archive, and to get some practical, hands-on experience of working as part of a team.

What you will do

The work will include:

producing and returning original documents accurately from the repository floor to the reading rooms
using computer systems to log and track document movements accurately
working in a customer service environment within the reading rooms
learning how we preserve and care for documents
working as an effective member of a team

How to apply

body: Our Document Services work experience placements are now fully booked for 2024. We will be taking bookings for 2025 after the summer.

If you are a student in the boroughs of Richmond upon Thames and Kingston upon Thames or Hounslow, please check with your work experience co-ordinator as some schools may have arrangements in place for contacting us.

We actively welcome applications from students with autism.

title: Contact us about work experience in Document Services
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email: DSDTraining@nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Work experience with Education and Outreach

What we offer

We offer students from Years 10 – 13 the unique opportunity to work with us in the Education and Outreach Department here in Kew. This part of the Archives is responsible for providing workshops and events to students and groups across the country. Come and see how we put together our incredible Education and Outreach Programme using our amazing collection of documents!

We will provide you with a daily schedule of activities so you know what to expect each day.
We will offer you a lead contact throughout the week and different members of the department will support you day to day whilst you carry out your tasks.
You will get feedback at the end of the placement on what you’ve achieved and ways to further develop your skills.

What you will do

It will be a varied week but you can expect to get involved with some or all of the following:

Observe and support the work of the Education Department whilst we deliver to school groups onsite and online.
Assist our Family Programme with preparation and lend support at their events.
Get involved with research tasks to help develop future workshops, events and activities in the Department.
Work with our web team to feedback on our website and online resources.
See how the Archives function from behind scenes: we will show you round the reading rooms and teaching spaces which give you a good idea of how things work in this unique space.
Ad hoc tasks: structured hands-on activities that help you to develop skills you would need to work in an education department at a cultural institution.
And of course – see original documents!

How to apply

Our placements run from approximately 9.30am – 3.30pm, Tuesday to Friday, during the final couple of weeks of each summer term. Places are limited so feel free to try again the following year if you aren’t successful the first time.

Please apply using our online application form when it is posted online here in September and we will let you know by the following January if you have been successful in your application with us.

title: Get in touch if you have any questions
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email: Elspeth.mcgregor@nationalarchives.gov.uk
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