Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) number, and (2) distribution, of relevant businesses required to meet the demand for T-levels.

Given the scale of the challenge, it is important that employers from all industries and regions are supported to deliver industry placements. We have carried out extensive stakeholder engagement across different industries, considered a range of evidence and put a substantial support package in place.

The published evidence is on pages 10 to 12 in the following link (which is also attached): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/802703/Industry_placements_policy_update.pdf. This document also provides links to other evidence.

The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) is promoting T levels and industry placements, including through operating a matching service which puts employers in touch with providers in their area. The NAS is also able to target specific geographical areas, as well as specific sectors and employers of specific sizes and types.

In May 2019, we published a new framework for industry placements to accommodate different industries, students and locations. We are piloting an employer support fund that is designed to help employers offering industry placements. We are also developing an employer support package alongside this. We will continue to monitor the regional and industry challenges to best target our activity to ensure that businesses can successfully meet the demands for T levels.