BFPA plays an active role in determining the future content of the new T-Level Transition Programme for young engineers

28 Jul 2021

First launched in September 2020, the new T-Levels designed through the Department for Education in an attempt to raise educational standards for those young people entering the work place for what might be the first time.

T Levels are new courses which follow GCSEs and are equivalent to 3 A levels. These 2-year courses, which launched September 2020, have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work, further training or study.

T Levels offer students a mixture of classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience during an industry placement of at least 315 hours (approximately 45 days).

The first 3 T Levels are now available at selected colleges, schools and other providers across England. A further 7 T Levels will be available in September 2021 with the remaining courses starting in either 2022 or 2023.

Given the challenges faced by BFPA members in recruiting suitably qualified staff, BFPA have taken a particular interest in this initiative. It has become apparent that for some students, the step from their existing educational standards to that required of the new T-Levels was too high and there was a need for a T-Level Transition Course which provided the necessary grounding and basic principles to make the required transition. Not surprisingly, this was named the T-Level Transition Course. BFPA, through their CEO Chris Buxton were invited to sit on the industry working group that were convened to determine the content and the curriculum for this training.

Amongst the various discussions and proposals tabled, BFPA also managed to raise awareness of the need to include Fluid Power as one of the several power sources available to Engineers in operating, maintaining and designing various power trains and equipment. This input was much appreciated and a commitment to include such content was made by the DfE.

We have also been invited to continue with our review of Government policy in this area. This is an important contribution to helping ease the challenges experienced by our members and will be part of an on-going focus on encouraging new blood and young people into our industry as we go into 2022.