Are you ready to take your business to the next level? T Levels are new courses coming in September 2020, which will follow GCSEs and will be equivalent to 3 A Levels. These 2-year courses have been developed in collaboration with employers so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work. Industry placements of around 45 days are an integral part of T Levels and are already helping employers go further forward, faster.

WHY HAVE T LEVELS BEEN CREATED?

In 2016, The Independent Panel on Technical Education was tasked with advising Ministers on actions to improve the quality of technical education in England.

It found a compelling case for change – highlighting the confusing multitude of qualifications available to young people, as well as issues with the market-based approach to qualifications. The Panel recommended comprehensive reform based around the radical streamlining of existing technical qualifications, aiming to simplify the system for students and employers into 15 technical routes. 13 of these will be T Levels.

HOW WILL T LEVELS DIFFER FROM APPRENTICESHIPS?

Apprenticeships are jobs with training, for young people who are ready to work. An apprentice spends 80% of their time in paid employment and 20% learning in the classroom.

T Levels are for young people who want to continue studying whilst gaining experience with a real employer on a worthwhile industry placement. T Level students will complete classroom learning and on the job experience alongside employability training, so they understand the demands and expectations of the workplace before their placement starts.

WHAT ARE INDUSTRY PLACEMENTS AND THEIR BENEFITS?

Industry placements give students an opportunity to develop their practical and technical skills in a real working role directly relevant to their vocational course. They last a minimum of 315 hours (around 45 days), giving employers the chance to ensure that young people are developing the skills and experience that industry needs. They allow employers to:

• Gain extra resources for day-to-day projects
• Attract motivated young people to the business and bring in imaginative and new ideas
• Upskill current staff through coaching and mentoring opportunities
• Develop a more diverse and creative workforce
• Provide a positive experience for a local young person
• Design a cost-effective recruitment pipeline of talent for entry-level jobs
• Build the capacity of a business and develop the skills in demand

WHY DO INDUSTRY PLACEMENTS NOW?

To help prepare for the introduction of T Levels, employers are already delivering T Level style industry placements, bringing the associated benefits to their businesses much earlier. With the launch of the Education and Childcare T Level only a year away, hosting students on industry placements now can ensure a smooth transition when the qualification is introduced.

The Department for Education’s T Level Employer Readiness team will be at The Childcare Expo Midlands to educate on the coming reform and advise employers how they can use the support of the National Apprenticeship Service to begin their industry placement programme.