Paid work and volunteering
Any work experience, paid or unpaid, will help you learn the skills needed in a workplace, even if you end up working (or studying) in a totally different industry. When you are applying for jobs your work experience will be useful to show your skills and experience.
If you have an idea of what you want to do when you leave school, volunteering or doing work experience in that industry can give you a better idea of what the work is like and whether it really is for you. It can also help you grow your networks; knowing someone in your chosen industry might be a great help in the future!
Work experience as part of your school studies is a great way to get an introduction to a new industry, and to work out whether you would like to study or work in that area. Many businesses will take on work experience students in areas you wouldn’t typically be able to get a job or volunteer in, so get in contact with businesses in your area of interest to see what you can organise.