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T Levels Employer Support Conference – ARU

Welcome to the second T Levels Employer Support Conference! This page will provide you with all the information you need for the upcoming conference.

T Levels are the government’s flagship technical education programme, combining in-classroom learning and a substantial industry placement. Hosting industry placements will help employers fill skills gaps, bring young talent to their business, help them meet recruitment needs and support social mobility in your region.

This employer conference marks the second of two face-to-face events held as part of the Department of Education’s work in supporting employers interested in hosting T Level industry placements. The primary objectives of the Employer Support Conference are to facilitate the expansion of the network of employers interested in hosting an industry placement, and to provide employers with best practices, templates, and tools for implementing and managing a successful placement.

During the conference, you will learn:

  • How current national policies and practices support industry placements
  • What has worked (successes) and what has not worked (challenges) since the introduction of industry placements
  • How employers, like you, have successfully managed and implemented industry placements in their organisations
  • Which employers are interested in hosting industry placements, and how you can support each other
  • How and where you can find more support and information on T Levels and industry placements

Getting to the conference

Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)
Peterborough University House
Bishop’s Road Peterborough
PE1 5BW

Wednesday 14th June – 10:00am – 15:30pm

View conference location in Google Maps

Meet the team

Colin Bentwood
Managing Director, SDN

From 1991-2006 Colin previously held a progression of senior research, strategy, and evaluation roles in London School of Commerce (LSC) and Technology Executive Committee (TEC). Over the years, Colin has established close working relationships with national and local educational government departments, and workforce development organisations.

Simon Peek
Policy Lead, Department for Education

Simon is currently working as part of the T Level Delivery Team and has overarching responsibility for their employer engagement strategy, designed to ensure sufficient employers engage with the T Level programme and offer high quality industry placements. He has also worked in Apprenticeships supporting large levy paying employers to understand how to invest in their workforce development.

Karen Kelly
Session Chair, SDN Strategic Associate

As a Strategic Associate with SDN, Karen has facilitated online T Level employer events and has provided direct support to industry placement employers. Karen has more than 20 years of knowledge, skills and management experience in further education; as an employer, training provider, consultant, policy specialist and senior manager for the Skills Funding Agency.

Simon Shaw
Session Chair, SDN Senior Associate

Simon has been helping organisations build capability through developing their people for many years. As an SDN Senior Associate, Simon focuses on apprenticeships, T Levels and other development programmes. He’s produced guidance for employers on industry placements and has talked to many students, mentors and leaders about how to how to set up and run them successfully.

Today’s speakers

Julia Schumann-Pratt

Work Experience & Widening Participation Lead
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Pat Carrington (MBE)

Executive Principal at City College Peterborough
Assistant Director Employment & Skills at Peterborough City Council

Fliss Miller

Associate Director of Skills
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough CA

Yanus Giwa

Senior Work Programmes Officer
Sanctuary Care

Santina Virk

T Level Employer
ISG Ltd

Tasha Dalton-Winterton

Principal
John Mansfield Campus

Qasim Rauf

T Level Employer
EG Group

Ben Locksmith

T Level Employer
Suffolk County Council

Conference agenda

10:00am
Registration, networking & a light breakfast
10:30am
Welcome

With Colin Bentwood

10:40am
Keynote address

The T Level story & what’s next, with Simon Peek

11:00am
T Levels & industry placements experiences

Perspectives from T Level employers:

Fliss Miller, Dr Pat Carrington (MBE) & Tasha Dalton-Winterton

11:45am
Coffee break
12:00pm
Table discussions

Focusing on your experiences of industry placements with Simon Shaw

13:00pm
Lunch
13:45pm
Optional

Anglia-Ruskin University Teaching facilities tour

14:00pm
T Level employer & student panel

First-hand accounts of implementing & experiencing industry placements with Q&A

Julia Schumann-Pratt, Ben Locksmith, Qasim Rauf, Santina Virk & Yanus Giwa

14:45pm
Support with industry placements

Summary of table discussions, reflections on the day and support with industry placements

15:00pm
Networking & closing statements from Colin Bentwood

Conference resources

Check in here after the conference. We will upload all available slide decks and resources for you to download.

Further support

For more guidance, templates, case studies and events to help you plan and host industry placements, visit the T Level employer support website.

Please contact us if you’d like to speak to someone about T Levels or industry placements, or can’t find what you’re looking for.

Do you use social media?

Share key messages and take-aways throughout the day, using:

#tlevels #skillsrevolution @educationgovuk @sdn_hq

  • 24 April 2023
  • Tim Chewter
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Employer Support Conference – Midlands/South →← Recording: In depth webinar series: Apprenticeship Compliance for Leaders (Starting 31 March)
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