Earlier this year, during the T Level National Conference in June, Jo Simovic – Chair of the T Level Ambassador Network and Amazon’s T Levels lead – made a public commitment to host an event during T Levels Week, celebrating the incredible employer engagement professionals working in schools and colleges. True to her word, that promise became a reality last week.
On Wednesday evening, we gathered at Amazon’s London headquarters for a celebration of the colleagues who make industry placements happen – the people who connect employers and students, who build relationships, and who keep going even when the journey is difficult.
A space to celebrate
From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere felt special. The event opened with a welcome from Jo Simovic and Dan Simons from the Department for Education, who spoke warmly about the importance of this community and the growing recognition of the role. Hearing this public acknowledgment of employer engagement staff – often the “unsung heroes” of T Level delivery – set a positive tone for the evening.
We were also welcomed by a group of Amazon’s own T Level students, only in the second week of their 9-week block placement. Their enthusiasm, professionalism and confidence were infectious. They spoke openly about the responsibility they had been given and how valued they already felt as part of the Amazon team. It was a powerful reminder of why this work matters.
Building resilience and connection
The keynote from Adrian Ball was one of the highlights of the night. Drawing on his experience as an ultra-marathon runner, he spoke about resilience – a word that resonated strongly with everyone in the room. He reminded us that resilience isn’t only about pushing through challenges; it’s also about celebrating the wins and recognising how far we’ve come. His reflections on perseverance, small victories, collaboration and the importance of perspective struck a real chord.
Jo Simovic then shared Amazon’s own journey with industry placements. The story of how La Retraite RC Girls’ School first secured placements with Amazon – after years of persistence and relationship-building – perfectly captured the spirit of resilience that ran through the evening. Nicola Weekly’s determination and belief that “no” could one day become “yes”, paid off, opening doors for many more students to follow.
Stories from the sector
The panel discussion brought together voices from across the T Level community: Ruth Coyle from La Retraite, Simon Bone from the NHS, and Marvin Karemera – a former T Level student now working as an Amazon Business Analyst apprentice. Their stories gave the audience insight from every angle: leadership, coordination and lived experience as a student.
Each described the patience, persistence and collaboration required to build meaningful placements. Ruth spoke about “starting small” and nurturing trust with employers over time. Simon reflected on the complexity of engaging a wide range of employers with differing priorities, and Marvin gave a powerful reminder of the impact this has on young people’s lives and futures.
Karen (Kelly) and I were delighted to introduce the updated resources and upcoming CPD opportunities now available through the DfE-funded support programme. These include the Building Better Partnerships workshops and new collaborative networks that will bring employer engagement and curriculum colleagues together to share practice and tackle challenges collectively.
From left to right: Marvin Karemera (Amazon), Ruth Coyle (La Retraite), Simon Bone (NHS), and Jo Simovic (Amazon).
A community that shows up
As the evening drew to a close, it was hard not to feel moved by the energy in the room. People had travelled after work, some quite far, and yet the conversations flowed long after the formal agenda ended. The sense of belonging, pride and shared purpose was clear.
For me, the greatest success of the evening was not the scale of the event, but the spirit of it. Everyone there understood the importance of what they do and how much it matters to students, employers and local economies. It was a genuine moment of recognition and community – something anyone with this job role truly deserves.
Looking ahead
Events like this remind me why our ongoing work at SDN Mesma is so important. Employer engagement colleagues play a vital role in the success of T Levels, and their professionalism, creativity and resilience underpin every student’s journey.
Jo, Karen and I are already exploring how we can replicate this event, perhaps in other parts of the country next year. In the meantime, we’ll continue to champion this community through the Building Better Partnerships CPD and forthcoming Gatsby networks, creating more spaces for people to connect, listen, share and be recognised.
From left to right: Karen Kelly (SDN Mesma Group), Simon Bone (NHS), Anna Sutton (SDN Mesma Group) and Jo Simovic (Amazon).
To everyone who joined us – and to all those who couldn’t but were very much part of our celebration in spirit – thank you. The difference you make every day is extraordinary.
Written by Anna Sutton, Strategic Development Network (SDN Mesma Group)