Discover your future workforce with a T Level industry placement

02 Feb 2024

Published in: Member News

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Walsall College is urging local employers to join their growing list of businesses providing industry placements to their T Level students.

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Walsall College is urging local employers to join their growing list of businesses providing industry placements to students.

Over the last 12 months, students on their T Level courses have been undertaking work experience with organisations including Balfour Beatty VINCI, Poundland and Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

With an increasing number of school leavers beginning these courses in September, additional 45-day placements are needed for each student to meet demand.

T Levels (or Technical Levels) are part of the Government’s flagship reforms to technical education in England and are equivalent to three A Levels.

The qualifications are based on employer-designed standards and focus on gaining workplace experience to help students be employment-ready.

“T Level qualifications are designed to develop the skilled workforce that businesses need for the future,” said Manveer Johal, Work Experience Coordinator at the College.

“Introducing industry placements into your business goes beyond addressing the skills gap. It's a comprehensive approach that brings about recruitment advantages, productivity support, innovation, reputation enhancement, staff development, and community building.

“With this in mind, we urge employers to come forward and explore the business potential of these placements with your local colleges and sixth forms.”

Winvic Construction Ltd has welcomed 16 of the college’s T Level Construction: Design, Surveying and Planning students to three of its sites as part of an enrichment programme. They are also providing placements to four students.

The programme was designed to showcase several elements of a construction project. Sessions enjoyed by the students included digital engineering, earthworks, planning, quantity surveying, CV writing, mental health and fairness, inclusion and respect.

They were given activities to complete, site tours, got hands on and up close with various construction processes and were encouraged to ask questions at any time.

Kayleigh Merritt, Winvic’s Talent Development Manager, commented: “It has been wonderful to see how the experience has opened students’ eyes to different roles.”

An Employer Support Fund is available for T Level industry placement providers. It allows businesses to claim funding for resources required to accommodate students on an industry placement. These can range from administrative costs, training costs, IT equipment as well as materials and supplies directly related to the industry placement.

For further information about T Level industry placements and the Employer Support Fund, contact workexperience@walsallcollege.ac.uk