The government has temporarily upped the cash incentive for small businesses to offer T Level students industry placements to £1,000.
It comes as the Department for Education has become increasingly concerned about convincing small business owners to host T Level students for the 45-day or 315-hour placements.
Small business owners were previously given £750 for each T Level student they took on, up to a maximum of 10 students.
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Small businesses will be able to claim for a new maximum of 20 students on T Level programmes from May May 2021 until July 2022.
The pandemic derailed the first-year rollout of the T Level programme with employers “cancelling or not committing to placements”, according to a National Foundation for Educational Research survey published last July.
Federation of Small Businesses chairman Mike Cherry said: “Small firms will welcome this announcement as another way to hire young and talented individuals who are making their first steps on the jobs ladder.
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“Many small businesses are looking to expand and grow as the economy unlocks, and it is through incentives like this that we will see new opportunities for the employer and employee.
“Small firms have said for a long time now that offering placements without any financial support would be difficult for them, which is why schemes like this will hopefully enact some positive change.”
What are T Levels?
The new technical qualifications – co-created with over 250 employers including Fujitsu and Amazon – are equivalent to three A Levels and uniquely combine classroom study with industry placements.
Three T Levels – Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction; Digital Production, Design and Development; and Education and Childcare – were rolled out last September, and a further seven are due to start this autumn, including Healthcare, Science and Onsite Construction and subjects including Finance, Media, Broadcast and Production and Legal Services.
Your small business can apply to take on a T Level placement student here
Further reading
150 UK small business grants to apply for right now – UPDATED
