Share
About This Erasmus+ Work Placement
Three Belgian students arrived in Portsmouth for a three-week Erasmus+ work placement coordinated by IBD Partnership Group. Max, Ana, and Simon were 17 and 18 years old and this was the first time any of them had worked abroad. They were placed in local companies across the retail, administration, and hospitality sectors, living with British host families for the duration of their stay.
IBD Partnership Group arranged the full programme, including the Erasmus+ application, employer placements, host family accommodation, and a programme of cultural activities in Portsmouth and the surrounding area. IBD has been coordinating Erasmus+ work placements for young people since 2005 and has placed students from more than 25 European countries with UK employers.
Portsmouth was a strong fit for this group. The city has an active hospitality and retail economy, a strong host family network, and enough going on culturally to make three weeks feel full without being overwhelming for students on their first international placement.
Project Highlights
- Three Belgian students aged 17 and 18, three weeks in Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
- Work placements in retail, administration, and hospitality with local employers.
- Supervised practical tasks and daily professional responsibilities from day one.
- English language development through full immersion in professional and social contexts.
- Accommodation with British host families throughout the placement.
- Cultural immersion in Portsmouth and the local community.
Feedback from Participants
The following feedback was provided by participants at the end of the programme.
“My Erasmus+ exchange in Portsmouth was an incredible experience. I learned so much in my work and now I feel more confident and prepared for the future.”
Max, 18
“Living with a host family in the UK was very special. It helped me improve my English and better understand the culture and daily life in another country.”
Ana, 17
Learning Objectives
- Gain practical work experience in a professional UK environment across retail, administration, and hospitality
- Develop communication, customer service, and job-readiness skills through supervised daily responsibilities
- Improve English language ability through full immersion in professional and social contexts
- Experience British culture and daily life through host family accommodation and community activities
- Build confidence and independence through a first experience of living and working abroad
What the Students Did in Portsmouth
The three weeks were split between workplace placements during the day and evening and weekend life with host families, with IBD’s local team providing welfare support and coordination throughout.
Each student was placed with a Portsmouth employer from their first working day, with supervised tasks and real responsibilities rather than observation-only roles. Max worked in retail, building customer service skills and learning how a British retail environment operates day to day. Ana’s administration placement gave her direct experience of office communication and professional English in a working context. Simon’s hospitality placement put him in a customer-facing role from the start, developing both his practical skills and his confidence in speaking English under pressure.
The host family element was central to the programme in a way that hotel accommodation simply cannot replicate. Evenings and weekends gave all three students a genuine window into British domestic life, local culture, and the kind of informal English that doesn’t come from a classroom. Anna specifically highlighted this as one of the most valuable parts of her experience.
By the end of three weeks, all three students had developed professionally and personally in ways that are difficult to manufacture in any other setting. Max described feeling more confident and prepared for the future. That is what a well-run Erasmus+ work placement is supposed to produce.
