Tamzin Caffrey
Head of Communications, EngineeringUK
Tamzin heads up the EngineeringUK comms team. She has worked in education and skills for over 25 years – across languages, creative industries and engineering and technology.
She believes in the power of positive role models, representation and lived experience, especially in engaging and inspiring young people.
Tamzin is particularly interested in how communications can change perceptions and help broaden horizons.
How T Level industry placements are helping businesses build the workforce of the future
This year’s International Women in Engineering Day theme is engineering intelligence.
Which gives us a chance to highlight some of the people bringing new ideas, technical skills and fresh perspectives into engineering and manufacturing workplaces.
For some years now businesses like Lyndhurst Precision Engineering, Quantamatic and R&B Switchgear Group have been benefiting from T Level industry placements. They’ve given young people, particularly young women, the opportunity to step into an industry that needs their talent, ideas and energy more than ever.
Bringing fresh thinking and technical skills into the workplace
Engineering and manufacturing T Levels are a 2-year technical qualification that blend classroom learning with a meaningful 45-day industry placement. Designed in collaboration with employers, they equip students with practical technical knowledge that can be applied in real workplace settings from day one.
Take Amber. As part of her T Level placement, she supported Quantamatic’s CAD design work – offering practical skills and a fresh approach to their processes. During her placemen Amber applied the many skills she’d learned at college. The team say she elevated their core drawings to a new level and made a huge, tangible difference to the business.
In fact, Quantamatic was so impressed with Amber’s work, they signed up another student. “Amber completely exceeded our expectations and left a legacy on the business that goes well beyond her placement.”
Developing the talent businesses need for the future
For many employers, T Level placements are becoming an important part of their future talent strategy. Industry placements allow businesses to get to know potential future recruits, helping them identify individuals with the skills, attitude and potential to succeed in the organisation.
At R&B Switchgear Group, the approach has delivered long-term results, with 5 T Level students progressing into permanent apprenticeships. They work in a specialist sector with an ageing workforce and growing demand for skilled employees. The company views T Levels as an important part of its workforce planning. They say the students they have had on placement are enthusiastic and bright.
“They’re keen, enthusiastic and bright. It's really boosted the business, and the people within the existing team as well,” says Gavin Chadwick, Technical & Training Manager.
Creating a more diverse engineering and technology workforce
We need to attract talent from the widest possible pool. These businesses are using T Levels to encourage and nurture young female talent. Women remain the most underrepresented group, making up just 17% of the engineering and tech workforce. T Levels can support more young women to gain valuable experience and explore careers in engineering and manufacturing.
“In a traditionally male-dominated industry, it’s great to see a pipeline of female talent coming through. This is a fantastic entry point to the business,” says Samantha Nicholson, Managing Director at Quantamatic.
At Lyndhurst Precision, 2 of the 3 students on placement were female. Technical Manager, Andy Wilding, said: “I’ve been really heartened by how many young women have been applying. We’d love to encourage more women into engineering and support them to thrive.”
Why should engineering and manufacturing businesses consider hosting T Level industry placements?
- Students bring technical knowledge and skills ready to apply from day one
- Placements enable businesses to identify future recruits before committing long-term
- Because students are doing real work, industry placements boost productivity
- T Levels are great way to support the next generation of engineers and manufacturers, and help businesses create a more inclusive and diverse workforce
“If each company in the industry took on just one student, we could all benefit. It’d be a better picture all round.” Andy Wilding, Lyndhurst Precision Engineering
If you think you might be interested in offering a T Level industry placement, there’s lots of useful information and support available. Start here and see where it takes you.
In a traditionally male-dominated industry, it’s great to see a pipeline of female talent coming through. This is a fantastic entry point to the business.
— Samantha Nicholson, Managing Director, Quantamatic
If each company in the industry took on just one student, we could all benefit. It’d be a better picture all round.
— Andy Wilding, Lyndhurst Precision Engineering
They’re keen, enthusiastic and bright. It's really boosted the business, and the people within the existing team as well.
— Gavin Chadwick, Technical & Training Manager, R&B Switchgear Group
