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T-LEVELS REPORT
GETTING SKILLS OFF TO A ‘T’
Many employers across a broad spectrum of industries have ranked the inability to find skilled recruits as one of their biggest challenges of recent years.
T-Levels were launched in 2020 to address this, by giving businesses a greater say in how courses are developed while giving students experience of the working world.
The courses are mainly taken by 16- to 18-year olds as an alternative to A Levels once they have completed their GCSEs. T-Levels are currently available across 20 subjects such as agriculture, construction, creative and design, and transport and logistics.
Predominantly classroom-based, they also involve a minimum of 315 hours – around 45 days – spent working within a business.
Now, colleges across the county are seeking employers willing to open their ranks to students - and they’re offering real-world, bottom-line benefits in exchange.
Neil Burrows, director of skills, innovation and employer engagement at Burnley College, says: “There are so many benefits, many of which are shared with apprenticeships, as well as offering a number of unique opportunities.
“Businesses can solve entry-level skills shortages, receive free support in the form of enthusiastic and hard-working young team members, gain fresh, innovative ideas from students, early access to the brightest talent entering their market, provide current staff with opportunities to develop their coaching skills and join a trusted network of supportive employers.”
Working with colleges, businesses are also able to help shape T-Levels provision, ensuring it meets the demands of industry.
Neil says: “It’s an opportunity to help us shape the future of education. We regularly consult with employers to discover where the skills gaps lie, what the latest advancements in technology in their field are, what new markets are emerging and to inform our education at every level.”
You don’t need to be a large-scale employer to host a T-Level placement, or even to have your say. Attitude is more important.
Claire Shore, senior business development manager at Blackburn College, says: “Due
Group, says: ”Given how many sectors are facing significant challenges relating to skills and recruitment, our Industry Boards create action plans to help resolve these, which often includes not just the providing the most sought after skills for our learners but also the upskilling of our own teachers to ensure they can teach the technical skills most needed in the sector.”
Offering placements for the first time can be daunting, especially as T-Levels are still relatively new, but each of the colleges we spoke to has made a wealth of support available.
Andy Parkin says: “Our curriculum teams work with employers to have clear expectations and outcomes of the placement so we can best maximise the outcome for the business and
Any employer offering a T-Level opportunity will be supported throughout the journey with a dedicated work placement officer and links to curriculum specialists
to the wide range of occupational sectors for T-Levels, we’ve seen that many businesses suit the T-Level programme. Any size of business can get involved, as long as they have the ambition and commitment to help develop the future workforce, and colleagues who are willing and able to mentor a placement student through their time on placement.”
Andy Parkin, assistant principal technical and adult education at the Nelson and Colne College
the learner. This would include outlining the technical skills that are to be developed as well as the softer transferable and work ready skills and behaviours which are so much in demand.
“In a more practical setting the college provides full support in the associated paperwork including completing Health and Safety and learner progress monitoring.”
Claire Shore says: “Any employer offering a T-Level opportunity will be supported throughout
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