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The UK is an engineering powerhouse with the industry generating almost £650 billion to the economy each year – equating to 32% of the country’s economic output
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Yet the engineering sector has seen a concerning decline in applicants (44.1%)
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By 2030, the UK may face a shortfall of 1 million engineers
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T levels were introduced to tackle this challenge. They are a high-quality technical qualification designed with employers to meet the skills needs of industry. The Engineering and Manufacturing T Levels have seen an 80% increase in enrolment from year 1 to year 2.
Case study: An example of the benefits of a T Level engineering student placement
MedTec Design is a micro-business employing 8 staff that provide engineering design solutions for a wide range of sectors. Previous projects have included everything from wind turbines and aeroplane components to self-playing pianos!
The firm’s remote location on the Isle of Wight means the talent pool for recruitment is limited. Director Daniel Carley says, “Finding good staff is a constant battle, and we don’t want to poach from others. Instead, we prefer to grow our own talent.”
Daniel partnered with the Isle of Wight College and managed to recruit a T Level Engineering student for industry placement.
When MedTec hit a busy period and needed to hire for another permanent position, they chose to offer an apprenticeship to their T Level student: “I decided to offer Ethan, our brilliant T Level student, an apprenticeship as a way of developing our future workforce. We’ve invested time into training and supporting him and that’s paying back dividends as he knows the business well and how we work; he’s thriving.”
Daniel enjoyed seeing Ethan grow in confidence to become a valued member of the team. In May he was invited to attend the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce business awards, where MedTec picked up the Micro Business of the Year accolade – an exciting experience for someone at the start of their career.
Daniel found hosting a T Level placement rewarding for both the business and student. “We’re laying some great foundations for whatever career Ethan wants to pursue in the future, and whatever branch of engineering he wants to go into. If every business did the same, collectively we’d be well on our way to solving the industry’s long-standing skill shortage.”
Would MedTec consider hosting another T Level student in the future? “100%, it’s like an extended recruitment process so you really get to test out the talent while also supporting them to develop. I really think more companies should give it a go and make life a bit easier for themselves in the long run.”
Click HERE to find out more about hosting a T Level student.
