Sourcing an Industry Placement
The Employer Engagement Guidance and Toolkit provides a comprehensive guide for education providers on how to engage and source employers for industry placements
Placement Models
The industry placement can be offered as a block, day release or a mixture. Employers and providers should work together to decide what works best.
Types of placement models
The following models are allowable for the T Level in Engineering & Manufacturing
Multiple employers (up to two)
A placement can be split across a maximum of two employers. The student should have a single set of learning objectives during the time spent with both employers.
Work taster activities
Students can undertake relevant work taster activities of up to 35 hours. This will count towards their total number of placement hours and can be in addition to time spent with up to two other employers.
Occupationally relevant part-time work
A student’s part time job hours can be counted towards their placement hours if the job is occupationally relevant to their pathway under T Levels.
SEND students
Students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can spend up to 105 hours at a providers’ on-site facilities. The rest of the placement must take place with an external employer.
Students in young offender institutions or other custodial settings
On-site facilities (e.g. onsite restaurant; manufacturing products etc.) can be used for the full duration of placements for young offenders studying T Levels within young offender institutions and other custodial settings.
Use of skills hub or employer training centres (Engineering and manufacturing specific)
Students can spend a maximum of 105 hours of their placement within an already-established Skills Hub or Training Centre. In this case, the remainder of the placement would need to be completed with the same employer.
Legal Compliance for Industry Placements
The Health and Safety Executive provides guidance for work experience organisers. This is relevant for work placements providers when working with employers to ensure that they have the relevant health and safety policies and procedures in place to cover a placement.