V-levels

Lord McNicol of West Kilbride Excerpts

Monday 23rd February 2026 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord McNicol of West Kilbride]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to communicate the purpose and value of the newly introduced V-Levels to students, parents, and employers, to ensure widespread understanding and uptake of these qualifications.

[The Minister of State, Department for Education and Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Smith of Malvern) (Lab)]

My Lords, V-levels will deliver a once-in-a-generation reform to 16-19 vocational education, supporting our goal for two-thirds of young people to reach higher-level study or apprenticeships. We will work with partners, including FE providers, local government, employers, higher education providers and the Careers & Enterprise Company, to ensure that V-levels are understood and valued. We will raise awareness of V-levels through our Skills for Life and future communications campaigns. Our consultation response will be published soon.

[Lord McNicol of West Kilbride (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend the Minister and welcome the clarity and reassurance she has given. Given the concerning new figures on youth unemployment, what steps are being taken to ensure that businesses engage with the meaningful work placements that are envisaged for V-level students, and have His Majesty’s Government considered financial or regulatory incentives to encourage employers, especially rural SMEs, to offer these placements for V-level students?

[Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)]

My noble friend is right that work experience often plays an important role in enabling young people to experience work and to reduce the risk of them becoming NEET, as does having the right routes for further study at level 3, which is part of what the V-level reforms are about. As well as this Government’s commitment to two weeks of work experience for students throughout their school career, we already have very effective industrial placements in T-levels, of course, and we will use the additional funding for the youth guarantee to provide the opportunity for young people who are out of work to experience work experience as part of the youth guarantee gateway.