This is part of the government's reforms to revolutionise skills and technical education.

Employers will be able to claim a £1,000 cash boost for every T Level student they host on a high-quality industry placement, as part of a new incentive scheme launched on Wednesday 27 May 2021.

T Levels are new two-year, technical study programmes that will initially be available across 24 pathways in 11 industry routes - co-created with over 250 employers including Fujitsu and Amazon – are equivalent to three A Levels and uniquely combine classroom study with industry placements.

T Levels are a key part of the government’s reforms to revolutionise skills and technical education, generating the skilled workforce that businesses need for the future and giving students the experience they need to progress into well-paid jobs, further study or an apprenticeship.

Industry placements form a key component of T Level courses, with students spending at least 45 days (or 315 hours) with an employer. They offer local businesses an excellent chance to nurture and build a skilled talent pipeline for the future, while helping to level up opportunities as we recover from the pandemic. Students gain vital hands-on experience and invaluable insight of the world of work, setting them up for success in the next steps of their career.

Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills Gillian Keegan, said:

“Employers are already recognising the value hosting a T Level industry placement can bring to their business, helping them to build the skilled workforce they need for the future. This temporary cash boost will help even more employers to experience the benefits, while also providing young people with invaluable first-hand experience in the workplace.

The incentive fund is designed to offer support to employers impacted by the pandemic, to ensure they can continue to host placements. Employers will be able to claim for up to 20 students for the available T Level subject areas from 27 May 2021 until July 2022.”

NewVIc is one of the first few colleges in England to be able to offer the T Level programme and will be delivering Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction; Education and Childcare from September 2021 with more subjects being added each year. Alongside vocational courses and A levels, T Levels will be one of the 3 major options available to students aged 16 – 19 at the college.

Former NewVIc students Najeeb and Raihan gained invaluable experience, real skills and role models during their industry placements with construction firm Galliford Try Partnerships in London. The business sees industry placements as a great way to recruit skilled young people from the local community.

Lynette Leith, Associate Principal Technical and Vocational Education at NewVIc added:

“The financial support available is a great way for employers to build their industry placement activity whilst boosting productivity in the workplace. Young people have so much to offer and are ultimately our workforce of the future therefore it is important that we prepare our students well for industry placements. Our T Level students go through a tailored employability curriculum that includes a rigorous job matching and interview process, additionally, our subject-specific curriculum is built in such a way that our students develop knowledge and understanding before placements start.”

Find out more about T Level placements and NewVIc students that took part in the project before - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE74vTv2GJI&t=17s

Find out more about T Levels offered at NewVIc - https://www.newvic.ac.uk/t-levels