Other News: Host a T Level student and find tomorrow’s automotive talent, today
We know recruiting the right people is crucial, especially in a highly technical industry like the automotive sector.
And we also know long-standing skills gaps and shortages are holding many engineering and manufacturing businesses back.
Engineering & Manufacturing T Levels have been designed to help solve both of these problems. T Levels are part of a reformed technical education system in England, created with employers, to standardise technical qualifications across the whole country.
They give young people a combination of practical skills and essential theory, which means they can step straight into work as a valuable member of your team.
Each T Level includes a 45-day industry placement hosted by an employer. As well as giving students on-the-job experience, these placements can help your business find future employees.
Businesses like Iconic Engineering Solutions, who have hosted T Level students, have found it can be a great, fast-track route to recruitment: “For a small business like ours, the recruitment risk is magnified,” says Jamie Clare, Director and Engineer at Iconic. “T Levels help mitigate this. For me, it’s like a safety net which allows me to see if the student is suited to the role and the business before I employ them fully.”
T LEVEL FAQs
What are T Levels and how are they relevant to my business?
T Levels are technical qualifications for young people aged 16-19. They were created in partnership with employers of all sizes to make sure the skills automotive businesses need are being taught in schools and colleges across the country.
What is a T Level industry placement?
A T Level industry placement involves a T Level student working with an employer for 45 days as part of their qualification.
Organised in partnership with local colleges or schools, placements are flexible and designed around your needs as a business. The 45 days can be done in one block, spread over two years or shared with another employer.
Offering T Level placements is a great way to recruit new talent into your business.
I run a small business, is a T Level student right for me?
Absolutely! The feedback we’ve had from small to medium-sized businesses who have already hosted T Level students has been overwhelmingly positive.
They say T Level students arrive with relevant technical skills, ready to work on meaningful tasks and contribute to the business.
Lots of small businesses end up recruiting their T Level student at the end of their course, either directly into their business or as an accelerated or higher-level apprentice.
What are the benefits of offering a T Level industry placement?
T Levels can help you recruit. Offering a T Level industry placement is a proven way to find and secure new talent for your business. The placement is like an extended interview, where you can test if candidates are a good fit for your business. Lots of SMEs go on to recruit their T Level student at the end of their course.
T Level students have the right skills. T Levels were designed with employers from across the engineering and manufacturing sector to address specific skills gaps, which means T Level students have the skills your business needs.
T Level students make a positive impact. T Levels are rigorous qualifications, meaning any students who come to you on placement will be able to hit the ground running and make a positive contribution to your business.
What do I need to know before I decide to take on a T Level student?
There is an initial time and resource commitment, though less intensive than taking on an apprentice – making it a simpler first step for employers considering apprenticeship programmes. However, T Level placements are bespoke to each business, allowing you to tailor the placement to your needs.
Your first step is to contact your local college or school offering T Levels. They will work with you to make sure all three parties (you, the student and the school or college) understand exactly what’s involved.
I’m interested in hosting a placement, how do I find a T Level student?
Finding the right T Level student for your business is a partnership between you and your local college or school.
It’s a flexible process and students will be available to start with you throughout the year.
To find out more, visit the T Level website and enter your postcode to find your nearest school or college offering T Levels.
T Level website link: bit.ly/employers-tlevels
