If you’ve never heard of T-Levels, you’re not alone. These relatively new qualifications are part of the changing technical education landscape in England. They are intended to offer a great opportunity for employers to shape the next generation of skilled workers.
Whether you’re a small business or a large organisation, this guide will walk you through what T-Levels are, how they work, and why you should consider getting involved.
What Are T-Levels?
T-Levels (short for Technical Levels) are two-year qualifications for 16–19-year-olds, which were introduced by the UK government in 2020 as an alternative to A-levels and apprenticeships. They combine classroom learning with a substantial industry placement, the purpose of which is to put technical skills and real-world experience at the heart of education.
As an employer if you are starting to receive CVs which only include one post 16 qualification then it is important to understand the relative value of a T-Level qualification. Each T-Level is equivalent to three traditional A-levels and has been developed in collaboration with employers to meet the needs of different sectors. Subjects range from Digital Production to Health, Education, Finance, Construction, and more.
You can view the full list of available and upcoming T-Level subjects on the official T Levels website.
How T-Levels Work
A T-Level course is typically split into:
- 80% classroom learning – where students gain core knowledge and skills.
- 20% industry placement – a minimum of 315 hours (approximately 45 days) spent with an employer in a real working environment.
The placement is a mandatory part of the course. It helps students put their learning into context, build confidence, and develop employability skills. For employers, it’s a valuable way to access fresh talent and support the future of their industry.
Why Should Employers Get Involved?
Getting involved with T-Levels can benefit your business in several ways:
- Shape the Future Workforce
By hosting T-Level students, you’re helping to develop the next generation of workers with the specific skills your industry needs. You can influence what students learn and gain early access to emerging talent.
- Support Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Offering placements shows your commitment to education, community engagement, and workforce development.
- Fresh Ideas and Perspectives
T-Level students often bring energy, curiosity, and up-to-date technical knowledge that can add value to your existing team by challenging existing thinking and potentially out of date processes.
- Cost-Effective Talent Pipeline
While the placements are unpaid, they offer a low-risk way to assess potential future recruits and reduce your long-term hiring costs.
What’s Involved for Employers?
Employers are not expected to provide training or assessments. Your role is to:
- Offer a meaningful placement which is aligned with the student’s course.
- Provide a safe, welcoming environment for the young person.
- Assign a supervisor or mentor so that the young person has a go to person who can support their development.
- Give regular feedback to support the student’s development.
The placement can be either block release (e.g. several weeks at once) or day release (e.g. one or two days a week), depending on what suits your business and the education provider.
You don’t need to pay students, though some employers choose to cover travel or lunch expenses as a goodwill gesture.
HR and Legal Considerations
While T-Level placements are relatively straightforward, there are a few basic HR and legal considerations:
Safeguarding
If students are under 18, safeguarding obligations apply. Education providers will carry out necessary checks, but it’s good practice to ensure your team understands how to work appropriately with young people.
Health and Safety
You must provide a safe working environment. Most businesses already meet this requirement, but you may need to carry out a brief risk assessment for the placement. The education provider may support you with this. It’s important to remember that a T-Level placement will for many young people be their first real experience of a workplace environment so don’t assume that they know what is safe and what isn’t in a work context.
Insurance
Check that your employers’ liability insurance covers young people on unpaid placements, most policies do, but it’s worth confirming with your provider.
Data Protection
If students have access to or directly work with personal or sensitive data, make sure they understand your organisation’s data protection and confidentiality protocols and if necessary sign a confidentiality agreement.
Who Can Offer a T-Level Placement?
T-Level students need placements that align with their area of study. For example:
- A student studying Digital Support Services could work in an IT department.
- A student on a Health T-Level could assist in a care setting (with appropriate supervision).
- A Construction student might support a project management or site co-ordination team.
You don’t need to be a large company, small and medium businesses can offer fantastic learning opportunities as well. If you’re unsure whether your organisation is suitable, your local college or training provider can guide you.
You can also register your interest via the T Levels Employer website.
Getting Started
If you’re ready to explore T-Level placements:
- Contact a local college or provider delivering T-Levels in your area.
- Discuss availability of students, timings, and how the placement would work.
- Agree a simple placement plan that outlines what the student will do, when, and who will support them.
T-Levels are designed with employers in mind to help bridge the gap between education and employment. By offering an industry placement, you’re not only giving a young person a crucial start in their career, you’re also helping to futureproof your own company by engaging with new talent that may well be key to the long-term success of your business.
If you want to find out more about T-Levels you can do so here.
Do you have any questions about today’s blog, need help in becoming legally compliant with contracts/policies or can we support you in taking away any people pains to give you peace of mind?
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Why not also check out last weeks blog A Guide to Employee Reward Platforms
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