Hosting Industry Placements for the First Time

Introduction

Thousands of employers have successfully hosted a T Level student – and many started with the same questions you might have. This page brings together insights, practical steps and real employer experiences to help you get started with confidence.

Four stages to hosting a placement

Hosting a placement is more straightforward than you might think. There are just four key stages, each with a few important steps. As you work through them, you’ll see how other employers have planned placements that suit their setting.

Planning	Clarify your reasons for offering a placement Contact a T Level provider to share your plans and get support Decide when and where the placement will take place, and who will support the student Choose a delivery model: block, day release, or a mix
Selecting	Consider the skills, knowledge and behaviours that matter to you Create a short job description or role profile Let the provider manage applications Interview and select your student (optional, but recommended)
Onboarding	Use your usual induction process Assign a line manager and a mentor or buddy Give the student time to settle in and build confidence
Hosting	Provide meaningful, varied tasks that support learning Offer guidance, regular check-ins and feedback Celebrate progress and achievements Stay in touch with the provider throughout

Why you can feel confident as a placement host

Watch our short video series to hear from employers who hosted a T Level student for the first time. They share:

What helped them feel confident
How they planned and structured the placement
Tips for onboarding and supporting students
Lessons learned and what they’d do again

Different approaches that work

There’s no single way to deliver a great placement. Here are three approaches employers have taken – all equally effective:

Curriculum-linked – Planning tasks that connect directly to what students are learning in the classroom
Real-work led – Letting students learn through everyday tasks and responsibilities
Blended – A flexible mix of curriculum and real-work experiences

Top tips from first-time hosts
Here are 12 helpful tips from employers who’ve done it. Use them to reflect on what matters at each stage of the process:

Planning	Decide what the student will do, where and when Choose a delivery model that works for your business Brief colleagues so everyone knows their role
Selecting	Be clear about the qualities and skills you’re looking for Create a short role profile to guide student interest Use the interview to get to know each other
Onboarding	Follow your usual induction process Allow time for the student to settle in Choose the right people to support and guide them
Hosting	Make the work meaningful Assign a go-to person for day-to-day support Take time to understand the student’s strengths and interests

Download the action plan

Use this simple action planning template to guide your preparation step by step.

Next steps

Explore how placements work in practice

Action Plan - Hosting an Industry Placement.docx

File size: 20 KB

Last updated: 27 May 2025 08:36

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