As with any new starter, there will be some planning and paperwork, however providers will support you with the practical and administrative tasks to help make the process as streamlined as possible. This will include organising the student selection process, arranging the review meetings, guiding you through the relevant paperwork and advising on reasonable adjustments. Providers will look to you for your industry expertise when planning the structure and content of the placement to ensure you, and the student, gets the maximum value from the experience. Providers will also make sure that you are complying with the health and safety guidelines prior to, and during, the placement.

Students will be suitably prepared for the workplace by undergoing appropriate work preparation training as part of their course prior to starting their placements. All students will bring a good level of technical knowledge and skills they have learnt in the classroom, to apply in the workplace. For some students this will be their first experience of being in the workplace, so as a minimum, providers will make sure they have the right work ethic and a good understanding of the professional behaviours that employers expect in the workplace.

T Levels have longer teaching time and more occupationally focused skills and knowledge which have been set by employers as essential for employment. The aim of the industry placement is to help students to apply and develop the skills and knowledge that they have learnt in the classroom when they go out on their placement, which will help them to become ‘work ready’.

Work experience has previously involved a student being with an employer for one or two weeks with time spent mainly following and observing. Industry placements are for a minimum of 45-days (depending upon occupational specialism), and are for students on a relevant course who will have the technical skills, knowledge and time to add value to your business.

Industry placements bring great benefits both short and long term. Short term benefits include raising the profile of the care sector as an employer, extra support with projects or services. You also contribute to the development of a young person. Placements are an excellent way of creating a recruitment pool for apprenticeships or other types of employment. Organisations are now exploring new avenues to attract talent and ensure they have a workforce to deliver their services. T Levels are a crucial part of achieving this.

Yes, a placement can be split across 2 employers, where this is considered necessary for ‘breadth of content’ and/or is beneficial for students. You can discuss this with providers. More information about ‘sharing’ a placement with another employer.

You should identify an appropriate line manager and/or supervisor for the students, as well as additional support staff where appropriate. This should ideally be someone who has experience of training others within the specialist area. They must have the capacity to hold regular meetings with students to provide them with feedback, provide day-to-day supervision and attend the formal review meetings with the provider i.e. at the beginning, middle and end of the placement.

The industry placement component of the T Level is the unique selling point for students. Students understand the importance of using the placement to develop their skills and knowledge and show their potential to prospective employers, and as an important addition to their CV. T Level students must have demonstrated a firm commitment to completing their industry placement when enrolling on the course. In advance of the placement, students will have undertaken workplace preparation and have a clear understanding of the progress they must make towards their learning goals during their placement to complete it successfully, and therefore achieve their overall T Level. Prior to the placement commencing, all students are expected to sign an industry placement agreement, which acts as a formal agreement between students, the provider and employer and contains students’ roles and responsibilities. It outlines the expected standards relating to technical skills and work-based behaviours that students must display in order to complete their placement. Employers and providers are also expected to sign the agreement to show their commitment to their respective roles and responsibilities.