The Department for Education has published updated guidelines for providers responsible for delivering T Level industry placements. The guidelines outline new flexibilities in place to make placements easier to deliver, encourage more employers to host, and to reflect real-world working patterns. The aim is to make industry placements more achievable and open up access to a wider range of students.

What is NOT changing

• The industry placement remains an integral, essential part of a T Level; without it, a student cannot complete the full qualification. 
• The minimum duration for most T Levels remains at 315 hours (45 days).
• The employer must oversee all aspects of the industry placement.
• The placement must give students the opportunity to apply their learning, develop skills and contribute to real work activities.

What HAS changed

• Mutiple employers permitted: Previously, placements could be split between a maximum of two employers (in some cases three, where they were part of the same supply chain). This cap has been removed and a placement can now be delivered by multiple employers. The recommendation is that placements should ideally involve no more than two employers, but exceptions can be made where a student 'would benefit from broader sector exposure,' or where short-term placements are more workable for the employer.
• Remote hours permitted: Students can now complete their industry placement entirely from home; previous limits on the amount of time spent on remote learning have been removed. The official 'recommendation' is that no more than 20% of the placement is spend remotely but the flexibility is in place, where needed.
• Work taster activities: Students can now spend some placement hours on work taster activities to help them better understand the sector they want to work in. Example of work taster activities include shadowing different teams, attending workshops and sitting in on meetings. The new guidelines also explicity permit small team projects and visits to skills hubs or training centres
• Clearer expectations for employer oversight: The new guidance reinforces that an industry professional not involved in teaching must set tasks and oversee the placement. Detailed processes are in place to support students, including additional support for those with SEND.
• Stronger emphasis on individualised learning goals: There are now clearer, more defined expectations in place that the provider will work with the student to agree individualised and stretching learning goals which are linked to the industry placement objectives.

For further detail on the updated guidelines for industry placements and the expectations on providers, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/t-level-industry-placements-guidance-for-providers--2