At 17, Aiden is already gaining invaluable real-world experience whilst studying his Business and Administration T Level. Currently in his second year, he splits his time between the classroom and his placement at the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), where he's discovering what it truly means to work in a professional environment.
The TRA is an executive agency of the Department for Education (DfE). It plays a central role in regulating the teaching profession in England.
We recently caught up with Aiden, alongside his placement supervisor Stuart Blomfield, TRA's Head of Operational Delivery and Sarah Buxcey, TRA's Head of Teacher Misconduct, to explore how T Level placements create genuine value for employers whilst providing transformative opportunities for young people.
Aiden, why did you choose a T Level, and how did you find your placement at TRA?
“I have always enjoyed business and thought it was a really good opportunity to gain knowledge and experience simultaneously. The placement was set up by my school with the option of three different departments in the DfE. I'd never heard of the TRA before, but it opened a door to an organisation whose work I might never have otherwise encountered. It's been brilliant to see how a professional environment actually works.”
Sarah, why did TRA decide to offer T Level placements?
“We already support apprentices within our team and wanted to expand that approach to support young people through T Levels. By offering T Level placements, we've been able to engage with young people, identify future talent, and offer them valuable experience and training to gain relevant skills.
“Having T Level students working alongside our large and diverse teams adds real value as they bring fresh ideas and a different perspective. Our teams and I have been proud that we have been able to support young people in their future career journey.”
Stuart, how do you structure and support T Level placements?
“At the outset of the placement, we spoke with Aiden and his school to understand the areas where the placement could support the learning objectives for the T Level course. We also discussed Aiden's personal objectives where we could add value. In addition to the interesting and stretching work that we offer, we have continuously looked for opportunities to support Aiden in developing his skills and experience. We check in with Aiden regularly and track his objectives.”
Aiden, what skills have you developed that employers should know about?
“My T Level has involved me working under pressure and has allowed me to learn how to work with colleagues to get the best outcome possible. My placement at the TRA has allowed me to develop my team skills as well as my task management, which has allowed me to create high quality work. These are skills that I can take with me in the future. I think my favourite part is working alongside different people and gaining knowledge that makes me a better person.”
Sarah, what have been the benefits to your organisation?
“Supporting Aiden as a T Level student has been a pleasure. We are proud that we are able to offer him an opportunity to develop his skills and experience in a real-life business environment. Our teams have embraced the opportunity to support him, and it supports our vision and people priorities to be recognised as an employer of choice who is committed to nurturing talent and giving people the opportunity to thrive.”
Aiden, from your perspective, how do T Level placements benefit employers?
“I think offering a work placement to a T Level student is an exciting opportunity for both parties as it allows the employer to see how their business could look, and it can also allow a business a new hire opportunity if the work experience really pushes the student forward as well as the business.
“I think that offering work placements at such a young age makes the student look more attractive to hiring businesses, as it can help them settle quicker as well as having the knowledge to go with it. This can make a business's hiring process a lot easier as there is someone who is fresh but also knowledgeable in the work setting.”
Aiden, what are your future plans?
“I have really enjoyed my time at the TRA and working alongside my colleagues who have been so supportive to me, so I hope my future plans involve me staying here for some time and allow me to develop even further.”
Why this matters for employers
TRA's experience with Aiden demonstrates what's possible when employers embrace T Level placements as a strategic approach to talent development. For an organisation that operates the regulatory system for teachers as an Executive Agency, acting on behalf of the DfE bringing in fresh perspectives through T Level students represents both an opportunity and commitment to nurturing future talent.
Sarah’s advice for other employers is “I would strongly encourage them to embrace T Level placements within their organisations, as a fresh and innovative way of growing your own talent, bridging skills gaps, and bringing fresh ideas and perspectives into your business. It's not just about offering work experience; it's about nurturing talent and giving people the opportunity to thrive.”
Stories like this show that successful T Level placements create genuine opportunities for young people to discover their potential whilst helping organisations build the workforce they need for the future.
What help does Skills England offer for employers to take on T Level placement students?
Skills England offers both practical tools and research-driven data to support employers who want to offer T Level placements.
As an employer, you can explore our Occupational Maps tool to see potential qualification pathways, or our Qualification Finder to look at what’s available.
You can also delve into our assessment of future employment demand by sector in our Assessment of priority skills to 2030 report.
If you’re ready to offer a T Level placement or want to learn how you can, the DfE has some valuable resources available:
- Training and employment schemes: T Level Industry placements including “what are T Levels?” and how to search for which T Levels are taught at schools and colleges near you
- Find out more about industry placements
- Register your interest in hosting T Level industry placements
Stuart Blomfield
Head of Operational Delivery, TRA
Sarah Buxcey
Head of Teacher Misconduct, TRA
Aiden Courtney
Business and Administration T Level placement student, TRA
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