The VET mission is to support learners in acquiring knowledge, skills and competences to successfully enter the world of work. Therefore work experience is a fundamental aspect of vocational training across Europe. The Skills 4 Work project aim was to improve work experience pathways for VET students by creating and validating a Work Based Learning implementation model engaging VET organisations and business. The emphasis was on learning from each other’s experience and engaging in a real dialogue with employers by developing the model in close collaboration with local enterprises. Through practical implementation of different work based learning approaches and feedback from enterprises, the project developed hands-on implementation guidelines (model) that will improve significantly the quality of work experience for both the VET students and enterprises in partner countries. The project benefited also VET teachers by creating CPD materials and transnational transfer of good practice through joint peer learning events organised as part of the CPD. Project objectives were:•To learn about existing work experience programmes in partner countries through practical study visits organised for VET teachers as part of the CPD strategy. To foster mutual learning between project partners. •To set up a VET & Employers Working Groups in each partner country to collaborate together on developing and validating WBL implementation guidelines and engaging in a dialogue on meaningful work experience practices. •To develop WBL implementation guidelines (model) for VET.•To develop CPD materials for VET teachers. •To extend employer participation in work-based learning practices across partner countries.•To disseminate project outcomes across EU Member States.The focus of this project was on the practical exercises in Ireland, Slovenia, Germany and the UK that evaluated effectiveness of different WBL models and engaged in collaboration local enterprises. Based on that the following three outcomes were developed aimed at VET providers, teachers and students as well as employers across EU: 1. WBL Implementation Guidelines (Model) for VET2. CPD materials for VET teachers3. VET - Business PartnershipsSkills 4 Work project partners were: H2 Learning from Ireland (project co-ordinator), City of Dublin ETB from Ireland, OSZT IMT from Germany (technical vocational college), CPI from Slovenia, Solski Kranj Centre from Slovenia (vocational college) and SERC from Northern Ireland (Further Education College). A significant outcome from the Skills 4 Work project was that it allowed comparison of partners’ systems with other European countries and sharing of best practice, providing opportunity to explore innovative approaches used elsewhere. For all of the partners the project was complementary to activities already carried out in their organisations, in many aspects the project was innovative. The mixture of partners’ competencies and profile was a significant added value of the project partnership. Working together on this project gave all the partners an insight into how work based learning models operate in each of the countries and how VET teachers are supported to deliver meaningful work experience modules to their students. This project has highlighted the differences that exist between the education and training systems in each of the partner countries. The context and content of work-based learning is different in each country and that was a very interesting element of the project. Each of the partner organisations brought their own perspective to the project and they have used the study visits as a mirror against which to reflect on the current practices in their country. Local context was emerging as a key issue that needs to be taken on board when ‘borrowing’ from another jurisdiction and often it is the discussions that took place around these issues that has led to the deepest learning within the Skills 4 Work project.