T levels have potential to deliver much needed homegrown technical talent if challenges faced by employers are addressed by government, according to a new report from Make UK and EngineeringUK, 'Unlocking talent: ensuring T Levels deliver the workforce of the future'.

The success of this new vocational pathway depends on employers being able to offer 43,500 placements but capacity and costs constraints are holding them back, in Make UK/EngineeringUK's analysis

The report states that:

• 43,500 placements will need to be provided by employers to ensure the success of T levels in manufacturing and engineering
• Only 9% of employers currently host a T level placement and just a further 12% plan to in the next year
• Over half (55%) of manufacturers are open to doing so,
• A third said financial constraints are holding them back as the cost of doing business continues to grow, while 44% say internal capacity constraints are a barrier.
• Over half (57%) said reinstating the financial incentive of £1,000 to take on a placement would make a notable difference
• Almost 2 in 5 said that clearer integration of T levels with apprenticeships would enable them to offer more placements
• Make UK and EngineeringUK are calling on government to reinstate the £1,000 financial incentive for small to medium sized employers to take on a placement student and work with sector groups to run an awareness raising campaign to get more employers on board.

See more information and the full 'Unlocking talent: Ensuring T levels deliver the workforce of the future' report on the Engineering Council’s website.