S KI LLS
TIME FOR T
CPI sets up students for
the future using T Levels
T
levels are set to shake up
industry on Teesside – paving
the way for students to gain
valuable hands-on experience
before embarking on their
dream careers.
And as the only college in the Tees
Valley selected by the Department
for Education to pilot the new
qualifications, Middlesbrough College is
leading the way when it comes to new
delivery methods, providing skills and
opportunities to benefit both learners
and local employers.
So, what actually are T Levels – and
how can they boost your business?
T Levels have been developed with
employers to equip learners with the
skills they need to enter the world
of work – and the college is already
working with businesses across the
region and beyond to ensure its
students are set up to succeed in top
industry jobs.
The courses, which will be equivalent
to three A Levels, include work
placements of at least 45 days –
allowing students to get essential hands-
on experience in their chosen industry.
One Teesside business that knows
all about the benefits of T Levels is
Redcar-based CPI (Centre for Process
Innovation).
The leading technology innovation
centre has been working with
Middlesbrough College for more than
eight years – helping provide young
people with vital workplace experience
and training – and views apprenticeships
and T Levels as essential to its
operations.
Hayley Carter, learning and
development business partner at CPI,
said: “We have a great relationship with
Middlesbrough College and have taken
on a number of apprentices over the
years, many of whom have become a
fundamental part of our team.
“The launch of T Levels is very
exciting for our business. It’s a great way
to give students invaluable experience in
the workplace and a real insight into life
after college.
“And for us as a learning organisation,
it allows us to build a pipeline of talent
to meet the demands of the business.
One of our guiding principles is to
be a lifelong learner and realise your
potential and working with placement
students and apprentices supports our
own staff development as well as giving
opportunities to emerging talent across
the region.
“Industry is changing rapidly – we’ve
seen the digital shift that is happening
in Middlesbrough at the moment and
workplaces have to adapt if they’re to
succeed. We need to work together to
give young people the skills to walk into
these new jobs.
“If you don’t get involved now with
programmes like T Levels, you may
struggle to recruit that talent in the
future. For us, it’s about envisaging what
skills we’ll need in the next three to five
years and recruiting with those in mind.”
Stephanie Coleman is executive
director of business and partnerships at
Northern Skills Group – Middlesbrough
College’s training and apprenticeship arm.
She explained: “The team at CPI knows
that it can get a lot out of students who
are workplace ready and come to the
business prepared with solid background
knowledge in the sector.
“The idea is that T Level students will
acquire the knowledge and experience
needed to open the door into skilled
employment, further study or a higher
apprenticeship.
“This type of skill building from the
ground up has significant benefits for
organisations like CPI because they can
adapt the training to suit their site-specific
needs and build genuine loyalty among
their young staff.
“We’re already helping a number of
local employers to take advantage of T
Levels and are on hand to offer advice
or support to any business interested in
finding out more.”
Middlesbrough College works with
Northern Skills Group to deliver more
than 100 types of programmes to around
2,700 apprentices across the North-East
and Yorkshire.
To find out more about how your business could
take advantage of T Levels, get in touch by
emailing placements@mbro.ac.uk.
The voice of business in the Tees region | 73