Industry placement delivery approaches
Give young people real industry experience – in a way that works for your business
T Level industry placements give students the chance to apply their classroom learning in a real workplace, developing up-to-date skills that employers need. Every placement is built around the same core principles:
- It must take place with at least one employer.
- It must involve real work, in person – either on site or, for some roles, partly virtual.
- It should reflect normal industry practice and standards.
- It must help students develop skills relevant to their T Level.
- It lasts a minimum of 315 hours (roughly 45 days).
To make it easier for employers of all sizes and sectors to get involved, there are several approved delivery approaches you can choose from. These allow flexibility while maintaining quality and consistency.
Flexible delivery approaches
Here are the ways placements can be structured, with examples to help you picture what each might look like in practice.
| Approach | What it means | Example in practice |
| Work taster activities | Up to 35 hours of taster activities before committing to a full placement. Useful if you want to meet several students or if a student wants to experience different parts of your industry. | A Media, Broadcast and Production student spends short sessions with five employers, seeing how different creative roles fit together – from client briefings to post-production. |
| Small team projects | Up to one-third of placement hours can involve project-based work in small groups, supervised by an employer. Ideal if you have a defined project that students can complete together. | A construction student joins a small group renovating a local building, gaining hands-on experience in tasks such as plastering, painting and basic plumbing. |
| T Level pathway placements | Placements can cover a broad area linked to the overall T Level subject, not just the specialism. This helps smaller businesses or niche employers get involved. | A furniture-making student spends part of their time in a small workshop and the remainder in a local furniture store to build broader confidence and customer awareness. |
| Multiple employers | Students can divide their hours between two employers – for instance, where one can offer experience in production and another in design. | A graphic design student works with a marketing agency for half the time and a local print company for the remainder. |
| Part-time work | Paid part-time work can count towards placement hours if it’s relevant to the T Level. | A student employed part-time by an agricultural equipment supplier uses those hours for their placement, focusing on developing new technical skills agreed with the provider. |
| Supply chain or network placements | Students can spend time with up to two partners in an employer’s supply chain. The lead employer keeps overall responsibility. | A large manufacturer arranges for students to spend time with its specialist component suppliers to understand the end-to-end production process. |
| Skills hub or employer training centre | Up to one-third of hours can take place in a structured training environment before moving to the main workplace. | An engineering firm uses its own training centre for initial hands-on training, before students move to the live workplace. |
| Hybrid (remote) placements | For most T Levels, up to 20% of hours (or 50% for Digital) can be completed remotely, usually from a provider site. | A Management and Administration student spends most of their time in the office but completes some hours remotely using a dedicated workspace at college. |
| SEND-specific model | For students with special educational needs or disabilities, up to one-third of hours can take place in supported on-site facilities before moving into a workplace. | An Animal Care student starts in the college’s grooming salon before progressing to a local veterinary practice. |
| Young Offender Institutions | Where needed, all hours can be completed within on-site facilities. | A Management and Administration student in a YOI completes their placement supporting administrative and record-keeping tasks within the education department. |
Which approach is right for you?
Every business is different. Think about:
- The type of work you can offer and how hands-on it is.
- The time and supervision available.
- Whether you could offer a shared or project-based experience with partners.
- Any facilities or training environments you already have.
Your local T Level school or college can help you explore the best fit for your organisation and support you through every step – from planning and paperwork to student readiness and insurance.
Support and next steps
- Watch our short animated video to see the different models in action.
- Read the full industry placement delivery guidance (PDF) for detailed information.
- Download the summary guide and examples document.
- Contact your nearest T Level provider to discuss opportunities in your area.
There’s no single way to offer a placement – and that’s the point. You can shape it around your business, your people and your capacity, while giving a student the chance to gain valuable experience and contribute to your team
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