Teenagers tell BBC of their hopes and fears as they prepare to start work

More than four in ten UK teenagers, aged 13 to 18, want more work experience opportunities at school, according to a Survation survey conducted for the BBC. The same proportion also called for better guidance on how to apply for jobs once they leave full-time education. Some respondents emphasized the need for improved communication skills and help managing stress and personal finances. In response, Skills Minister Jacqui Smith stated it is the government's mission to ensure teenagers leave school "confident about their next step and equipped with the skills and experience they need to succeed." The UK government aims to guarantee two weeks of work experience for every young person during secondary school in England, although currently more than half of respondents said they had not participated in any such program. As part of the BBC's Teen Summit project, four students from Newcastle—Param, McKenzie, Jasmine, and Javaris—were followed as they undertook their first work experience placements.