Prime Highlights:

• Over a thousand young people in Greater Manchester will get hands-on work experience through 45-day placements with local companies.
• Students studying T-Levels can gain real-world skills while continuing their education, preparing them for apprenticeships or full-time jobs.

Key Facts:

• T-Levels are two-year technical courses equivalent to three A-Levels, combining 80% classroom learning with 20% workplace experience.
• More than 20 subjects are available, including digital software development, engineering, media production, and accounting.

Background:

Greater Manchester is set to offer hundreds of high-quality work experience placements to over a thousand young people as part of a new initiative aimed at strengthening the region’s technical education.

The 45-day work placements are for students studying T-Levels, a two-year technical course similar to three A-Levels. Started in 2020, the program combines mostly classroom learning with some time spent in real workplaces, giving students practical experience while they study.

Dylan Nomovi, 17, from Middleton, who has started his placement at IBM, shared his experience: “The company was really welcoming, the people were amazing and they helped me settle in. It’s the best thing I could have hoped for because I can be in the workplace and continue my education at the same time.” Dylan, who is studying digital software development at The Manchester College, hopes to pursue a degree apprenticeship in software design after completing his T-Level.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority is working closely with local colleges and businesses to make more T-Level placements available. Ella Tsui-Lau, Assistant Principal at Manchester College, said that strong links with employers are important for keeping students on T-Level courses. She added, “It’s very rewarding to see students go on to higher apprenticeships or full-time jobs.”

Leon Butler, Chief Executive of IBM UK and Ireland, emphasized the value of real-world experience for students: “They are developing e-commerce websites, programming with HTML, and exploring new technologies like artificial intelligence. Daily, I’m impressed by their capabilities, and we make sure they gain experience in professional business environments, including presentations and teamwork.”

Currently, there are over 20 T-Level subjects available, including engineering, accounting, media production, and craft and design. In addition to technical skills, students also receive classroom instruction in English and Maths.

The Greater Manchester Baccalaureate is being introduced as a technical alternative to the English Baccalaureate, providing clear pathways to high-quality jobs in growing sectors. The authority plans to expand these opportunities to all young people in the region by 2030.

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