Government launches new one-year employer support fund for T Level industry placements
The Government has recently announced the roll-out of a new £12m support fund providing financial assistance to employers offering high quality T Level Industry Placements.
Industry Placements are a core part of the T Level qualification which was developed in partnership with leading businesses and education providers to ensure that students build the technical knowledge and skills required to meet the needs of industry.
While employers don’t need to pay to take on a T Level student for a placement, there may be certain business costs involved like time invested in planning, training and supervising.
However, from April 2023, employers will be able to claim funding to cover legitimate costs associated with hosting a T Level industry placement student. This could include:
- set-up costs
- equipment
- staff training
Businesses will be able to claim for placements that start after 1 April 2023 and further guidance on the types of costs that employers can claim for will be released in March 2023.
T Levels at a Glance – What employers should know
Who can offer industry placements?
- T Level Industry Placements can be offered by England-based employers. This includes small businesses, sole traders and freelancers.
How long do placements last?
- Placements are required to last a minimum of 315 hours (approximately 45 days) but can last longer.
Can placements take place remotely?
- While most industry placements must take place in a work environment there are some exceptions. For some T Level subjects, students have the flexibility to do up to one fifth (20%) of the placement hours remotely. This delivery approach applies to the following T Levels:
- Digital (All)
- Accounting
- Finance
- Legal Services
- Management and Administration
- Media, Broadcast and Production
Which T Levels could be relevant to your organisation?
- Currently, T Levels cover the following 11 skills areas.
Why offer an industry placement?
- Benefits for your business of hosting an industry placement include:
- improving the recruitment pipeline for your business
- addressing skills shortages and filling skills gaps
- opportunities for existing staff to develop mentoring and supervisory skills
- giving opportunities to young people from a wide range of backgrounds, leading to a more diverse workforce and an enhanced reputation in your community
How can I get involved?
- Employers interested in offering an industry placement can get in touch with T Level schools and colleges near you. Once you’ve found a provider you’d like to work with, they will support you throughout the process. This will include assistance with paperwork, a careful planning process and support with designing the industry placement.
For more information on T Levels and industry placement support for employers, visit the Government’s dedicated website.
