Niche Recruitment

Posted by Niche Recruitment
24th January 2024

Are T-Levels the secret to future-proofing your talent pipeline?

• Niche Recruitment

Future-proofing your talent pipeline has never been more important, and here at Niche, we’re shining a light on how T-Levels (Technical Levels) could be the secret to doing just that. 

Persistent skills gaps are one of the main challenges faced by employers in today’s recruitment landscape. The demand for a skilled workforce is higher than ever. If you’ve felt like finding the right person with the right skills is like searching for a needle in a haystack, you’re not alone.

Recent reports have found that 36% of all vacancies are due to skill shortages and 41% of employers currently hiring have a hard to fill vacancy.

Despite this, UK employers have expressed their intent to hire in Q1, with 27% of those surveyed expecting to bring new team members on board. 

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF T-LEVELS

T-Levels are shaking up the education landscape. Introduced in September 2020, this ground-breaking new qualification bridges the gap between traditional academic routes such as A-Levels, and practical skills routes such as an apprenticeship.

Preparing students for future careers and the ever-evolving job market, T-levels are split 80%/20% between classroom-based learning and an industry placement respectively. These 2-year courses are offered in various subjects including Business Management & Administration, Software Development, Coding and Games Development and many, many more.

HOW CAN T-LEVELS ADDRESS THE SKILLS GAP?

The demand for an adaptable and skilled workforce is greater than ever. In our opinion, there is no ‘silver bullet’ to solving the skills gap issue, though T-Levels could be part of the solution. An opportunity to nurture talent post GCSEs will help to reduce the pressure of hard-to-fill vacancies in the future.

Working closely alongside industry professionals one day per week provides hands-on experience, giving the students tangible insights into their chosen industry’s current needs and challenges, whilst learning ‘on the job’. Not to mention vital employability skills, including communication, problem-solving and time management.

EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIPS

An industry placement is a mandatory element of the qualification, and arguably, the most important part. Employer partnerships are integral to the success and expansion of T-Levels, allowing students to put all learnings in the classroom into practice, and deliver on projects in real time.

Hosting a student brings immediate and long-term benefits. By working with a T-Level Student, organisations benefit from new and imaginative ideas being brought to the table, while existing team members develop their mentoring and management skills. Increased productivity, additional project support and existing staff development are just a few of the notable benefits.

FUTURE-PROOFING YOUR TALENT PIPELINE

T-Levels have opened a whole new avenue for students post GCSE’s, developing a diverse talent pool of future hires who can hit the ground running from day one of employment.

Ever-changing technologies and industry trends call for employees to be adaptable and to keep their finger on the pulse. By focusing on practical skills and industry relevance, T-Levels offer a solution, ensuring those who study are equipped to stay ahead of the game.

With more subjects being rolled out over the next 2 years in Marketing, Media Broadcast & Production and many more, we’ve no doubt that T-Levels are addressing the skills gap and providing a pathway for students to seamlessly integrate into the working world.

In the continued race for talent and finding those ‘golden unicorn’ candidates, T-Level qualified individuals may be the secret weapon you need to stay ahead of the competition.