Lisa and Ali on the Mutual Benefits of T Level Placements

To find out more about the placement side of T Levels, we spoke to Lisa, a project manager at GMCA Education, Work & Skills, and Ali, her T-Level placement student from Stockport College. 

Finding the Right Match

Lisa wasn’t initially on the lookout for a student to train, but, inspired by GMCA’s commitment to empower young people, she decided to create a T Level placement. 

Lisa identified long-term projects that might benefit from additional support, making use of the combined authority’s positive relationships with local colleges: "I looked at three things: the type of work, the length of the project and the amount of work… The type of work includes auditing webpages and introducing a new technical tool, a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system.

“Alongside the projects, I knew there would be the opportunity for other ad hoc tasks, which also lend themselves well to the structure of a T-Level placement."

Ali, who was studying Management and Administration, found the placement through his college’s career support service: "My college provides a lot of support for T Level students to find and apply for placements and it was the careers officer who showed me the placement here at the GMCA.

“She helped me to create a CV and cover letter, and I was lucky enough to get an interview."

“I actually enjoyed it,” Ali said of the interview. “My Dad is a businessman; I have visited his office and seen interviews taking place, so I didn’t feel too nervous.”

“I had some interviews with other organisations as well, but the role at the GMCA stood out to me as one where I’d learn a lot and the people were friendly too.”

Preparation and Support

Lisa approached Ali’s first day like she would for any new starter, making sure his IT equipment was ready, giving him a tour of the office, and setting him up with a buddy.

“As most T-Level students are under 18, there’s also an added layer to employee safeguarding that you have to keep in mind, but the Learning and Development Team are fantastically supportive.

“What’s been really nice is the support from members of the team, who’ve previously hosted T-Level students. I would like to support future placement supervisors in the same way!”

Lisa changed her schedule to be in the office every Monday, so she was on hand to help Ali if needed.

Ali's first day coincided with a training session for the new CRM tool, perfectly timed for his involvement in the project. For her part, Lisa was delighted with the way Ali quickly integrated into the workplace.

Ali found the balance between his work placement and college manageable, and particularly enjoyed working on the CRM project, which allowed him to apply knowledge from his T Level course to real-world tasks.

Lisa, meanwhile, was pleasantly surprised by his professionalism, determination, and positive attitude, which made him a valuable addition to the team.

Working Together

Lisa highlighted the mutual benefits of hosting a T-Level student: “It’s not a one-way street. We often talk about giving young people opportunities, but we don’t always think about the benefits we get from it!

“We’ve been able to offer mentorship opportunities to existing team members, use our experience to support other organisations looking to host placements, and ask Ali to provide his feedback from his point of view to understand how we can better serve young people in the work we do here at the GMCA.”

Ali recommended the GMCA placement to his friends, expressing interest in returning one day. He explained: “I have some friends from college who have applied for T-Level placements here next year. I’d love to come back and work here as a Degree Apprentice."

Similarly, Lisa encouraged colleagues to consider the benefits their team could gain from hosting a student: “Ask yourself, ‘what could my team get from this?’. Let's flip the narrative of only the T Level student getting something from the experience and realise how much we can gain too."

More Information

Lisa and Ali's journey highlights the positive impact of T Level placements for both students and employers. Their experiences underline the importance of providing opportunities for young people while recognising the valuable contributions they can make in the workplace.

Remember: T Level courses range from marketing to accounting to digital services. Placements can be completed in blocks (i.e., a few weeks in a row) or over a prolonged period (i.e., once a week).