Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Accepted
Publish plan to improve employer awareness of T Levels, capitalising on local arrangements.
Recommendation
There is a risk that colleges cannot secure enough industry placements for more students to complete their T Levels. Industry placements are a mandatory part of a T Level. While 98% of students finishing their T Level in summer 2024 completed a placement, colleges will need to find significantly more placements should student numbers increase in line with forecasts. However, only one third of employers are aware of T Levels and colleges face challenges sourcing placements in certain locations and for certain courses, such as engineering, digital and health. The Department has previously estimated that a shortage of teachers and industry placements would limit T Levels to 48,000 enrolments but is now confident this risk has been mitigated. For example, from January 2025, it allowed 20% of a placement to be remote (50% for placements in Digital T Levels) and recently reintroduced funding, available from 23 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, for small to medium employers offering placements or those offering health- related placements. The Department has trialled placement co-ordinators for some integrated care boards. It is having conversations with mayoral strategic authorities and recognises that Local Skills Improvement Plans are useful in raising awareness of T Levels. recommendation The Department should set out its plan to improve employer awareness of T Levels, capitalising on local arrangements, including Local Skills Improvement Plans and expanding good practice in finding health placements through integrated care boards.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and is improving employer awareness through the T Level Ambassador Network, planning to appoint regional chairs this year. It has also introduced new flexibilities and targeted funding for placements and will set out further plans to grow high-quality industry placements by December 2025.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Levels, to help increase the availability of industry placements. The department has already taken steps to improve employer awareness. There are now over 1,000 members of the T Level Ambassador Network, a network of employers and providers who promote T Levels on a voluntary basis across the country and help to raise awareness of T Levels amongst providers and employers to support the creation of industry placements. The department plans to appoint regional T Level Ambassador Network chairs this year to better promote T Levels locally. The department has also recently introduced new flexibilities to industry placement delivery and targeted Employer Support funding to continue to improve placement availability. The department recognises that it can do more to grow the number of high-quality industry placements offered by employers, including in leveraging Local Skills Improvement Plans and building on existing work with integrated care boards in the NHS, and will set out further plans by December 2025.