Britain’s manufacturers are urging the Government to work more
closely with business on new reforms to technical education or,
risk repeating the same mistakes over the introduction of the
Apprenticeship Levy which was rushed in without proper
consultation.
The call comes on the back of a new survey by Make UK, the
manufacturers’ organisation which shows a significant lack of
awareness amongst Industry about the proposed new T levels, as
well as concerns about how key elements of the reforms will be
implemented in practice.
Commenting, Verity Davidge, Head of Education & Skills Policy
at Make UK, said:
“For too long, vocational education has remained in the shadows
of academic learning. Industry supports the introduction of T
levels which have the potential to boost technical education and
create a credible vocational education route for young people and
deliver the practical and technical skills industry so
desperately needs.
“However, the introduction of T levels is another fundamental
change to our education system which has been subject to constant
chop and change, often leaving employers bemused. Currently,
there is a worrying lack of awareness amongst industry with low
levels of knowledge even amongst those who have heard of them.
“To avoid a sense of deja vu with the introduction of the
Apprenticeship Levy, which was rushed in without proper
consultation, Government must continue to work more closely with
business groups to boost significantly awareness throughout
industry. The programme is at risk of failing if employers aren’t
aware or on board, particularly when it comes to offering
mandatory work placements.”
The new T levels are due to be introduced in engineering and
manufacturing in 2022 and are intended to place technical
qualifications as an equivalent to A levels.
The aim is to simplify the landscape for vocational
qualifications and provide a route into skilled employment after
two years’ study. They will be made up of five key elements and
include mandatory work placements.
However, whilst Industry is behind the introduction of T levels
the survey showed that almost two thirds of companies (65%)
hadn’t heard of them, whilst more than a quarter (28%) had heard
of them but with only limited knowledge. Furthermore two fifths
of companies are unaware of what is required of them when it
comes to providing work placements though given the overall lack
of awareness this is unsurprising.
The survey does show that manufacturers are willing to step up
and offer work placements with one third prepared to offer them
in their current form and a further fifth (21%) prepared to do so
if they were more flexible.
However, with all the other issues that companies are facing, in
particular Brexit, 60% of companies feared having the capacity to
manage work placements, especially as over half (55%) said they
wouldn’t have the time given they are already managing young
people through schemes such as internships and work experience.
Manufacturers do see potential for T levels, but not as a way to
move into skilled employment as the Government had initially
proposed. Instead, almost half (43%) of manufacturers see T level
students moving onto a higher level apprenticeship and 30%
suggesting T level learners go onto higher education. For the
latter to be achieved, however, efforts must be made to end the
snobby of vocational learners going onto university.
In response, Make UK is urging the Government to step up efforts
to raise the profile of T levels throughout industry or risk
failing to engage with employers on what is another fundamental
to change to the education system. Furthermore Make UK has also
made the following specific recommendations:
- · Make placements
flexible so as to increase their take up. This could be done by
using training academies that replicate the real world of work to
deliver them whilst not having to physically be on a shop floor.
- · Allow T level
students to undertake their placement with more than one
employer. This will encourage greater take up among SMEs unable
to deliver a 3 month placement and give learners greater exposure
to wider industry.
- · Increase support
for employers to deliver placements by matching funding support
for providers to employers to encourage take up of placements
across all sectors and sizes.
- · Include a “work
readiness” module to T levels to ensure that young people are
better prepared before undertaking their placement with an
employer.
- · Take steps to
simplify T levels, especially around grading. This would help
secure employer buy in as well as make the qualification more
attractive to the next generation.
- · Take greater
action to get universities to accept T level students. This would
significantly increase the attractiveness of T levels and
vocational learners.
