Investing in Younger Generations, QinetiQ hosts T Level Placements

Building strong relationships between education and industry is a key component of Heart of Worcestershire College, and more so with T Levels. For employers, hosting T Level students provides an opportunity to develop future talent for their own or other businesses, strengthen recruitment pathways, and help young people gain industry experience.

Lawrence Hall, a Software Engineer at QinetiQ, highlights the benefits that industry placements can bring to both students and employers.

Offering T Level placements was a natural extension of QinetiQ’s existing commitment to offering apprenticeships and early careers programmes. Traditionally, they have recruited graduates and higher-level apprentices but saw an opportunity to reach young people even earlier in their journey.

By offering placements to students at Further Education level, employers help students gain a realistic understanding of their chosen industry, with key skills developed before they move on to their next step. With this early exposure, it creates a clear pathway for students to move into apprenticeships and employment opportunities and allows businesses to nurture talent from an earlier point.

Hosting T Level students was a new experience for QinetiQ, but they viewed it as a positive challenge, adapting work and knowledge that were suitable for younger learners while still offering meaningful workplace experiences.

Henry and Jayden are the first two students completing their industry placements, and their first foray into their journey with QinetiQ was a software development project that followed a real software lifecycle. They were able to generate ideas, create design documentation, and develop practical solutions to be used in the future. Working on this project has lent itself to further uses, with it potentially being used at STEM events and open days, where Henry and Jayden have had the opportunity to contribute work that helps with their course while also providing added value to QinetiQ and engaging with the local community.

Lawrence found that the biggest advantage of the T Level was the close alignment with workplace activities. Students were able to apply what they learned in college directly to their real-world tasks, reinforcing their understanding of their course while further enhancing their skillset.

The partnership between the college and employer added valuable knowledge sharing. Tutors from the college provide curriculum information and resources that allow the business to tailor projects and activities to enhance the students’ work experience.

Whilst technical skills are important to learn in any industry, Lawrence emphasised the importance of professional behaviours. Demonstrating strong punctuality, work etiquette, collaboration and more are skills that are essential in every workplace. The T Level offers students regular feedback and mentoring from experienced professionals to help them understand industry standards and expectations.

Henry and Jayden were encouraged to ask questions, seek guidance, and learn from constructive criticism, all of which are essential skills for future employment.

For employers, hosting a T Level student is beneficial by strengthening links with the college, expanding professional networks, and creating more opportunities to engage with future talent. This experience with Henry and Jayden has given the staff at QinetiQ the opportunity to collaborate with younger learners and refine their processes for future placements.

Lawrence also highlighted the value of showcasing opportunities for learners of all ages and that young people can contribute to meaningful projects with the right support.

When asked why an organisation should consider a T Level placement, Lawrence stressed the importance of introducing young people to the industry as early as possible. T Level placements allow students to explore careers, develop workplace skills, and make informed decisions about their future pathways before committing to higher education or employment routes.

The support provided by the college was also highlighted as a key factor in QinetiQ hosting T Level placements, with strong communication and guidance helping the employer throughout the process.

Both QinetiQ and our students have found the first few months of the T Level placement to be highly rewarding. Henry and Jayden have gained practical skills, industry knowledge, and valuable experience, and have built confidence through their project in the first quarter of their placement. QinetiQ has strengthened its talent pipeline and built stronger links with education within Worcestershire.

As more businesses start to become involved with T Levels, partnerships like QinetiQ’s demonstrate the positive impact these placements can have in developing the future workforce.