Gateshead College: T Levels Two Years On
Date published:
Deni Chambers Director of Curriculum and Skills at Gateshead College on how T Levels placements make good business sense:
T Levels have been around for more than two years and bring lots of benefits to businesses, however many employers are unaware of how worthwhile they are, not only for today but for future proofing the skills they need to continue being competitive.
Designed by employers, these qualifications have been developed to give businesses an opportunity to address their skills needs while helping to shape future talent. T Level students come to college where they’ll gain a thorough understanding of their subject. We’ll give them the relevant industry skills and knowledge and, once we know they’re ready, they’ll move into an industry placement; that’s where employers come in.
This is like no other work placement though. Unlike having a student shadow you for a week or two; T Level students are ready and prepared to take on tasks and get their teeth into projects. Each student will complete at least 45 days working in industry, bringing a new perspective, fresh ideas and extra resource for projects, or even just more support for the day-to-day. The crucial thing for our students is that they get their teeth into something real and tangible, tasks that are meaningful to them and their career.
We work with employers to find the best match for them, however if they prefer to get involved in recruitment, we’re happy for anyone taking on a student to hold interviews or CV screening. We’re here all the way to support both student and employer during the placement. The whole process is built around each individual business and we develop a detailed placement plan with a working pattern and schedule that suits everyone.
The first T Level ‘graduates’ are already proving how successful these two-year qualifications are with our students going on to secure employment with their placement employers. So, in addition to all of the other perks, T Levels are an ideal way of identifying new talent and finding future recruits.
If you’d be interested in bringing some fresh ideas to your organisation and investing in the workforce of the future by taking a young person on placement, please email [email protected]