Leading regeneration specialist Galliford Try Partnerships is the first to benefit from a government-backed initiative to encourage employers to provide valuable industry placements to T Level students.
The FTSE 250 business has partnered with Exeter College to provide industry placements to T Level construction students studying with the College from 2020.
T Levels mark a revolution in the provision of technical education for the UK and Exeter College have been selected as an ‘early adopter’ of the new qualifications. The aim is to provide students with the technical skills required to move in to employment, providing a true insight into life in the industry while still providing UCAS points to support an application to study at university.
Exeter College is the only provider in Devon selected to deliver T Levels for 2020 entry, with full-time, two year courses available in Construction, Digital and Education and Childcare. By signing up to take on T Level students, Galliford Try Partnerships have agreed to provide industry placements for construction students for 45 days over a two-year period and will receive a £750 grant per student from the government to help facilitate the placements.
Galliford Try Partnerships have previously worked with Exeter College offering work experience placements and are looking forward to a more formal arrangement thanks to the new T Level qualifications.
Charlotte Olver, Development and Communities Manager commented; “We are eager to work with colleges to deliver T Levels for the learners of today, it gives us the opportunity to build, shape and mould young people and prepare them for work in the industry.
“T Levels promote the variety of careers available within construction and break down stereotypes of the onsite world and we can set aside time and space to help students grow while also getting them working in an industry they’re interested in.
“Our partnership with Exeter College provides the perfect platform to address the industry skills shortage and encourage students to enter the industry.
“We’ve been delighted with the calibre of students that have joined us in the past, and what’s exciting for me is that you get access to people who are eager to learn and can genuinely provide a great resource to businesses.
“The funding from the government will ensure that we can put in place excellent resources to help the students with us make the most out of their experience.”
T Levels are being launched at selected providers like Exeter College in 2020 before a national rollout the following year, when Exeter College will be offering a wide variety of courses with a view of providing students a direct line of sight to industry following their studies.
Exeter College Assistant Principal Sam Hillman, who is leading on the college’s T Level delivery, was delighted Galliford Try Partnerships volunteered to take on students studying the Construction T Level and be the first to access the money available to employers who provide industry placements.
“It’s great that our students will have access to such a proactive and forward-thinking construction company like Galliford Try Partnerships,” said Sam.
“It’s vitally important for us to be able to offer students valuable industry placements that are meaningful, worthwhile and full of learning opportunities. I’m certain that’s exactly what our students at Galliford Try Partnerships will get and I can’t wait to see the progress they make in the construction business.
“I firmly believe the experience will be a positive one, not just for students, but for businesses themselves that want to be involved with T Levels. Businesses will get access to enthusiastic students who genuinely want to progress in the industry and learn as much as they can as well as provide a tangible contribution to the company.”
Adam McIntyre did a work placement with Galliford Try Partnerships during his Level 3 course Construction and the Built Environment, immersing himself in different areas of the business to learn which part of the construction industry he was most interested in.
Adam said, “It has definitely been a great experience for me. The staff at Galliford Try Partnerships have helped me out a lot, not just with industry experience but also with my coursework and assignments at college.
“I did some work in the office learning about the pre-build processes that take place at a company like this. I then went and did some on-site work, learning more on how a professional construction site works and getting a feel for the industry.
“I knew I was interested in the health and safety side of things but my placement with Galliford Try Partnerships has really helped to confirm that I want to go that way in terms of my career. I went around sites with an expert and learnt about what they look out for when it comes to the safety aspects of a construction site.”
Adam is set to build on his expertise as he enters his second year at Exeter College, as he gears up to undertake 300 hours of an industry placement with Galliford Try Partnerships in the current academic year.
Exeter College is actively seeking employers willing to provide industry placements to T Level Students on Construction, Digital and Education and Childcare courses. Those interested should contact Alison Brown on [email protected].
