The UK is an engineering powerhouse with the industry generating almost £650bn to the economy each year – equating to 32% of the country’s economic output.
Yet, the engineering sector has seen a concerning decline in applicants (44.1%), according to WPI Strategy, and by 2030, the UK may face a shortfall of one million engineers.
T levels were introduced to tackle this challenge. They are a high-quality technical qualification designed with employers to meet the skills needs of industry. The Engineering and Manufacturing T-levels have seen an 80% increase in enrolment from year 1 to year 2.
The Gatsby Foundation are trying to encourage SME employers in the engineering and manufacturing sectors to place T Level students as a way of solving the skill crisis in these sectors.
Case study: Glazing Vision
Glazing Vision is a manufacturer based in rural Norfolk and in its remote location in the market town of Diss, recruiting new staff to this growing business can often prove challenging. That’s one reason Glazing Vision is keen to inspire and nurture new talent into the industry; it’s a way of building their future workforce.
Having worked closely with the local University Technical College (UTC) for a number of years, a recent project brought a group of students to Glazing Vision to participate in a short assignment and to have a tour of the factory.
It was during this visit that T Level learner, Dami, stood out. When he approached the team about doing his 45-day work placement at Glazing Vision, Group MD Jon Shooter said it was an easy decision. “It was a no-brainer that we’d take him on – he’s an exceptional talent.”
Dami worked on a range of tasks, from programming mechanisms to testing in the electronics department. Part of his course included a section on quality control, which he was able to put to practical use in the factory.
“Because the placement runs across 45 days, there’s enough time to give meaningful work for the student to get stuck into – and get something out of. They can meet lots of the senior team, to ask questions and really contribute.
“We’ve hosted three T Level students now and found them all to have the right attitude and capability to work across different departments, which builds both their confidence and skillset.”
The Glazing Vision team is keen to nurture new talent into the industry and would love to host work placements for T Level students every year. Jon concludes: “Yes, it’s a recruitment opportunity, but we also see we’ve got a duty of care to the next generation of engineers. They need the benefit of proper experience because it’s crucial to get off on the right foot at the beginning of your career.”
Click here to find out more about hosting a T Level student.
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