Employers

T-level industry placements

South Staffordshire College is excited to be delivering T-levels in animal care, electrical, early years, health, media and plumbing from September 2024.

T-level qualifications support the colleges’ strategic objective of being able to successfully provide learners with the knowledge, attitude and practical skills needed to progress into employment, an apprenticeship or higher education whilst also addressing local and regional skills needs.

What is a T-level?

T-levels are a brand-new two-year qualification combining classroom study, which accounts for 80% of the programme and an industry placement making up 20%.

Developed with employers like you, T-levels will prepare learners for work in your industry sector by developing key skills, attitudes and behaviours needed to succeed in the workplace.

Industry placement with businesses like yours

The industry placement plays an invaluable opportunity to allow young people on T-level programmes to put knowledge and skills learnt in the classroom into practice in a real workplace environment.

Learners need to complete an industry placement for a minimum of 315 hours which is approximately 45 days. So, we really need your help!

Benefits to employers

• Employers who are able to offer learners an industry placement can benefit from:
• Developing existing employees mentoring and management skills
• Creation of a more diverse and creative workforce
• Attracting motivated young people into your business
• Improved recruitment pipeline to your business
• Saving on recruitment costs by providing the opportunity to see what the young person can offer on a no obligation employment basis

How you can help

If you think you could provide a valuable industry placement opportunity for one or more of our learners, we would love to hear from you.

Please email work.experience@southstaffs.ac.uk who will be delighted to hear from you and talk through the placements in more detail.

Virtual and Augmented Reality

South Staffordshire College has been developing the use of virtual work experiences for our learners. We have been exploring how we can specifically incorporate virtual reality and augmented reality into student experiences. Providing students with experience of industry is a vital part of what we offer, so we are better preparing them for life after education.

Although this was primarily introduced because of covid, what we have discovered that the inclusive nature of virtual experiences has the potential to provide all learners an opportunity to experience industry setting, in circumstances when otherwise they would have been unable to. Ensuring that the project is fully inclusive and available to all.

Providing our learners with VR & AR experience of work settings is also beneficial for employers that work in a high-risk setting. Using VR & AR we will still be able to ensure our learners experience these settings, but from the safety of home and college. Our virtual work experience programme will remove barriers of cost and geographical location for our learners. This Virtual Work Experience project enables more young people to engage with you as employers to develop an understanding of the world of work in a meaningful way.

Dependent and the time you can commit, there are three distinct levels of involvement that you can choose from:

Level 1 – 360 recording

Level 1 requires the least minimal input from you the employer/industry specialist. The 360 degree recording of key rooms, settings, and areas within the place of business is simple and easy and will be undertaken by a member of staff from South Staffordshire College and using our 360 camera to scan each room takes minutes.

Level 2 – 360 recording and interview

Level 2 includes all of level 1 plus the option to record on camera information about you, the employer, the setting you work in, pathways into employment, progression, and anything else you think relevant. Face to face interviews can then be embedded in the 360 virtual images to enhance the virtual experience.

Level 3 – 360 recording, interview and learner visit to industry setting

Level 3 includes all of level 1 and 2 plus we would invite employers to meet our learners on campus or in the industry setting. Work with SSC to develop a virtual work experience programme.

All 360 recording and footage will be made available to employers that take part. Contact Claire Pinder-Smith for more info – claire.pinder-smith@southstaffs.ac.uk

Skills Advisor Role

As a Skills Advisor you can have a real impact to shape skills delivery in terms of course content, delivery and more. However, you don’t need to be an educationalist, your expertise is what you know about your industry, what skills are needed now and by working with us review the content of the relevant course to confirm that unit/topic detail is fully relevant to the current workings of your sector.

You’ll have the opportunity to engage with a range of college staff, many of which came from your industry into teaching. This will be through ‘in person’ and online sessions. Beyond this you might want to demonstrate your sector or organisation to a pipeline of future potential employees. You may choose to be a guest speaker, host student visits to the workplace for tours or activities, run a short masterclass/careers talks or offer work experience placements. However, the level of engagement beyond advising on your industry’s needs is entirely up to you.

In return for your time and expertise you will be ensuring the future workforce has the skills you need. In addition, you will receive VIP invites to a range of awards events we hold, be sent our termly employer newsletter and have access to regular updates on what funding becomes available to help you and your business be successful. Furthermore, you will have access to 1000’s of students that might just be your next recruit.

If you are interested in being part of shaping future skills delivery, please contact employers@southstaffs.ac.uk