Getting skills right: How businesses can help design our new T Levels

Providing young people with a high-quality education — technical or academic — is vital for them, it’s vital for business and it’s vital for our economy.

That is why the introduction of T levels, a new technical qualification that is on a par with an A level is so important. To make sure we get this right, it needs everyone in business to participate pull together in the same direction and today I’m calling on businesses to help design these new qualifications.

We need experts from the following sectors:

• Agriculture,
• Environmental and Animal Care;
• Business and Administration;
• Hair and Beauty; Creative and Design; and
• Catering and Hospitality

Join our T level advisory panels and help us create the new T levels that will be delivered from 2022.

Nine panels will sit across these five routes, and we are looking for people with direct experience of working in these areas.

It’s a unique chance to work with government and other industry leaders to create these new qualifications that genuinely prepare students for skilled employment and meets the needs of businesses.

There are already T level panels in place across 6 routes, including Digital; Education and Childcare; Construction and Health and Science. That work is going well with the sector experts providing real insight and helping us design a course that delivers for both young people and the employer.

Dayle Bayliss, chair of our Design, Surveying and Planning panel, has written a blog about her experience on these panels which you can read about here.

It’s absolutely right that employers are involved in this process. After all, they are the people who know exactly what’s needed for their businesses to grow in the future.

Industry leaders including EDF, Rolls-Royce, Fujitsu, Lloyds and Morphy Richards are already working alongside education specialists to develop the core content and I want even more to join us.

You can find out more here. I look forward to working with you!

Skills Minister, Anne Milton