Why it’s time to talk about T-Levels

When it comes to discussing the various routes into the warehousing sector, we spend lots of time talking about apprenticeships. Ranging from GCSE equivalent (Level 2) all the way up to Master’s (Level 7), over 700,000 students begin an apprenticeship each year. Apprenticeships, rightly, dominate conversations, not only in our sector, but at the highest level of government policymaking.

However, when the conversation turns to T-Levels, there is almost always a palpable drop in interest. T-levels were introduced in the autumn of 2020 as a two-year vocational qualification for students following their GCSEs. They are equivalent to three A Levels and focus on vocational skills through a blend of classroom-based learning at a school or college, and on-the-job experience through an industry placement of at least 45 hours. Within the education system, T Levels essentially bridge the gap between an A Level (100% classroom based) and a Level 3 apprenticeship (80% on-the-job).

For students who wish to retain a balance between classroom and on-the-job learning, T Levels, on paper, appear a great option. Yet, with only 25,000 starts in the last academic year, it comes as no surprise that T-Levels are often viewed as the forgotten younger sibling amongst more established, well-funded and traditional options in L3 apprenticeships and A-Levels.

When delving a little deeper into the current T-Level offering, we may find our reason for this. There are currently 20 subjects offered as a T-Level, including health, accounting, education and early years, animal care and management and building services for construction. Yet, there is no offering for a T-Level in logistics, supply chains or warehousing. For an industry employing roughly 1 in 8 of the UK workforce, 400,000 in warehouses alone, the lack of an industry specific T-Level to broaden the pathway into employment in such a vast industry makes little sense.

We know that the government are concerned with current levels of NEET (Not in Education, Training or Employment) amongst young people aged 16-24, which in January-March this year reached 923,000 – 12.5% of all people in this age group. The proportion of young people who are NEET has been rising since 2021, and the level in January-March was close to the highest since 2014.

The warehousing and logistics sector, meanwhile, is a consistent supplier of high-quality jobs and demonstrable progression routes for young people. It is clear that the Department for Education and wider government must recognise this throughout all education and training policy, including routes, such as T-Levels, that lie outside of traditional options.

If you have any thoughts regarding T-Levels, or if you offer T-Level placements at your organisation, we would love to hear from you. Please contact policy@ukwa.org.uk.