Gatsby Benchmark 6
Experiences of workplaces
First-hand experience of workplaces through visits, shadowing or work experience, to help learners explore careers and widen their networks.
Last reviewed 2026-09-30
What Shine records for Benchmark 6
- Work experience, workplace visits and job shadowing are logged and tagged to Benchmark 6.
- The per-learner table flags 'No work experience' so gaps are easy to spot.
- Learners can search live work experience and volunteering listings on Shine.
What still needs your team
Placement finding, health and safety checks and employer agreements are outside Shine.
Questions about Benchmark 6
How do I evidence Gatsby Benchmark 6?
Record each learner's work experience, workplace visits and job shadowing, with dates and reflections. Shine's per-learner table shows who has not yet had an experience of a workplace.
Does Shine manage work experience placements?
No. Shine records experiences and lists live opportunities. Placement checks and agreements stay with your team.
Does a virtual work experience count?
Check the current Gatsby and Careers & Enterprise Company guidance. Shine lets you record the activity type so it is clear what happened.
How do I find learners with no work experience?
Filter the per-learner table in the Shine dashboard for the 'No work experience' gap.
Benchmark wording follows Gatsby's November 2024 update. Check the official Gatsby Benchmarks site for full criteria.
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