IET offers response to UK Government reforms to T-Level industry placements

Head of Policy, Stephanie Baxter, IET, provides a response to UK Government reforms to T-Level industry placements.

“The reforms to T-Level industry placements announced today are a welcome step to increasing take up, widening participation and making the rollout more equitable across the country.”

“The regional variations in the availability of placements have undermined the rollout of these important technical qualifications. The extra flexibility offered by the new remote placement allowance is a positive step to addressing this and widening participation, but more must be done to bridge the gap between industry and course providers.

“Our Skills Survey 2023 found that 63 per cent of UK engineering employers feel that the UK education system does not prepare graduates well for industry – falling substantially behind other nations.

“Skills England’s remit to identify where skills gaps and demand exist regionally across the UK – working with the Industrial Strategy Council and Migration Advisory Committee – can be a key part of raising the profile of T-Levels and the benefits that they can have on regional skill demands in local areas. But for this to succeed, Skills England must work in close collaboration with industry and training providers.”