T Levels Bring Workplace Skills To The Fore

In September, the very first cohorts of students will begin studying for T Levels - the new, two-year qualifications which are designed to equip learners with the skills and knowledge needed by employers.

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP) Skills Director, Michelle Rainbow, explains how the North East will be leading the way. Last month Government announced that an additional £95 million will be invested into the provision of T Levels – the new, technical qualification which is being rolled out nationwide. This new funding is welcome and underlines just how important the roll-out of these qualifications will be, both for the next generation of workers and for the businesses which will employ them.

As T Levels are made available to learners across the country over the next two years, it will signal a real shift in how we deliver vocational training in the UK.

T Levels will combine classroom-based learning with a minimum of 315 hours on-the-job training which is spent on site with an employer. This means that students will not only be gaining workplace experience that is directly relevant to their area of study but, vitally, they will also be developing the skills, behaviours and attitudes which businesses look for.

These new qualifications are at level three, with one T Level equivalent to three A levels. During the first phase of the national roll-out, T Levels will be available in construction, digital and early years education, with the range of subjects expanding over the coming two years to include accountancy, media, manufacturing and many other options.

And here in the North East we have a head start, as four providers in our region were chosen to be amongst the first to deliver T Levels, with the first learners beginning their studies this September. Gateshead College was one of those selected and the team there has been working closely with the Department for Education to help shape the new qualifications.

“At Gateshead College it’s in our DNA to work closely with employers. They act as critical friends, helping us to make sure that all our programmes are designed with employers’ needs in mind, and we already have fantastic links with a whole raft of businesses including those in the digital and early years sectors – the two areas in which we will be offering our very first T Levels,” explained Kevin Marston, Assistant Principal at Gateshead College.

“We’ve been talking to our existing students, potential new students, and their parents to help them understand the full range of routes available and what might work best for each of them. There’s a clear awareness, as there is amongst employers, about the benefits of T Levels and I know we will exceed our targets for recruitment in September.”

“It is very, very important for our country that these reforms in education take place and that young people’s learning aligns closely with the needs of employers. This is what T Levels will achieve.” As Kevin says, T Levels will help us to tackle the skills gaps which we know exist in our region, with employers telling us that they struggle the most when recruiting into technical, skilled occupations.

The evident buy-in from employers is great to see, as they are the vital ingredient which will make T Levels a success. It’s important that we retain the flexibility to respond to employer feedback and make sure that T Level programmes stay closely in line with the needs of businesses.

“We’ve been working with the Department for Education since day one and for us as a college it’s an exciting time,” added Kevin. “There’s a real confidence in raising the level of vocational skills and this is a great opportunity for us as a nation.”