A TWO-WEEK taster of working life proves to be an enjoyable and valuable experience for school children every year.

But it is getting harder and harder to arrange because of a lack of companies in Basingstoke prepared to offer pupils a placement.

Only too familiar with the problem is Barry Kitcher, careers and work experience co-ordinator at Brighton Hill Community School.

Two weeks before the Year 10 children were due to set off on their work experience this year, Mr Kitcher still had 17 pupils with no-where to go.

"It's becoming a crisis now," he said. "I was finding places right up until the last minute but I got somewhere for all of them in the end. Those last two weeks were absolute hell.

"The children become very, very disappointed because they want to go on work experience and enjoy it."

The majority of work placements are organised by Trident - a charity based in Farnborough - which finds places for nearly 5,000 children a year.

Among the most sought-after work placements are in sport, theatre, law, IT, the armed forces or veterinary practices.

The aim of work experience is for children to learn the key skills they will need when they leave school and to help them decide on a career path.

Emma Biermann, a pupil from Bishop Challoner School, found her own placement within The Basingstoke Extra's photographic department, a month before she was due to go on work experience, She had become anxious that a place had not been secured for her yet.

"I wanted to either do photography or work with disabled children," she said.

"I was getting worried I wouldn't get anything I wanted. It's unfair if you don't know where you're going and some people were given places where they didn't want to go."

Now eager to take a photography course at college, Emma said: "I'm really lucky and glad I came here."

Disappointed by the negative reaction from many companies, Mr Kitcher said: "The biggest culprits are the larger companies who can take more but they are the biggest critics about children not having skills."

The difficulty in finding pupils places is partly put down to the redevelopment of Basingstoke town centre, causing a temporary loss in the number of retailers and office space.

The level of health and safety required for a pupil in a workplace is also thought to be a factor.

John Hooker, senior employer visitor for Trident, said: "We're struggling this year. It's frustrating for us. Unfortunately, schools tend to go out close together, sometimes even at the same time. We suggest times for the schools to try to stagger it throughout the year but they have to do what suits them best, which tends to saturate the good companies."

Ways of encouraging more companies to open their doors to youngsters, and also improve the quality of work experience offered, are currently being investigated.

Trident can be contacted by ringing 01276 709830.