TLT are a UK law firm with six offices across the UK. We have over 1,000 staff and over 100 partners, 60 of which are leaders in their fields.

We are a growing firm – so are always looking for good people across a range of levels and areas of expertise who can support us in delivering an exceptional service for our clients. Opportunities vary from working in our specialist legal teams through IT and projects to marketing and HR.

One area where we have found a particular skill shortage is experienced Legal Secretaries. We believe this is a culmination of secretaries not moving jobs coupled with the role diversifying into either a PA focused position or document management/admin role.

One way in which we have combatted this challenge is by working with Weston College. We chose Weston College due to their reputation, location and the range of courses they provide. They currently support us with level 2 and level 3 apprenticeships within our volume business teams. The opportunities that they currently support with vary from apprentice office assistants to apprentice case handlers.

Over the last 12 months we have successfully recruited around 11 apprentices through Weston College on a range of level 2 and 3 apprenticeships.

Weston College offer us a range of courses to suit our needs across both legal and non-legal teams. We currently have apprentices undertaking level 2 and level 3 courses in business administration and customer services and are looking to expand our apprenticeship offering to other courses in 2019.

Weston College are also close to our Bristol headquarters and on hand to support with the recruitment and delivery of the onsite training required for each apprenticeship.

Since working with Weston College, we have seen a reduction in the time it takes for someone to start their apprenticeship. This has helped to get them up and running sooner, boosting our ability to deliver work for our clients.

We've also offered permanent positions to a number of our apprentices upon finishing their programme, which allows us to bring on staff with the skills we requires and make a long-term investment in their career with us.

We are able to attract a wide range of talent into the business from a variety of backgrounds by taking on apprentices. We feel that apprentices positively impact our business by bringing a range of skills, a fresh outlook and enthusiasm.

Rebecca Mitchell, Recruitment Business Partner, TLT

It can’t have escaped your attention that further education is undergoing a major shift towards workplace learning.

Locally and nationally, we’re experiencing widening skills gaps in numerous sectors, which requires government, providers and employers to work together to find alternative ways of providing the skills the economy demands.

Among the government’s solutions is the T Level qualification – described as the biggest overhaul in post-school education for 70 years.

And Weston College will be at the forefront of this ‘revolution’ as one of 54 providers selected to pilot the new qualification.

T Levels will be available in 15 industry-related subjects, known as ‘pathways’. We will deliver the Digital (software applications design and development) T Level from September 2020 – two years before the full roll-out.

T Levels provide a genuine alternative, and equivalent, to A Levels. They’re aimed at 16 to 19-year-olds who would rather study work-related courses than traditional academic subjects. As well as preparing learners for employment, T Levels are designed to raise career aspirations and to dispel the myth that vocational courses are the poor relation of A Levels.

An integral component of each T Level programme is a high-quality, structured and outcome-focused industry placements.

T Level learners must undertake an industry placement of 315 hours (45 days) before they can complete the course. However, industry placements will be important in their own right, by helping young people gain the skills needed to move into employment.

Delivering such extensive and authentic workplace learning clearly requires a huge commitment from local employers. We’ve taken great strides over the last decade to forge close relationships with businesses but, with T Levels fast approaching, we’re working even harder, and putting even greater resources, into building new partnerships with industry.

After successfully applying for Capacity and Delivery Funding (CFD), we’ve put in place a Work Placement Team, whose remit is to work with employers from across the region to establish and develop high-quality placements that fulfil genuine commercial need.

The team will also provide support and guidance throughout the placement and monitor learners’ progress.

T Levels represent a tremendous opportunity for employers.

The curriculum is shaped by employers and benefits from the unique insights of business leaders. The industry placements at their core provide businesses with talent pipeline where they can develop their, potential, future workforce according to need. They also allow existing staff members to share their knowledge and develop mentoring skills.

Aside from T Levels, work experience is at the core of virtually all Weston College provision.

All our FE courses are part of a ‘study programme’ that is designed to prepare young people for their future career. Our facilities aim to mimic real-life workplaces and some – including our Hair and Beauty Centre and Grove Restaurant – operate as commercial businesses.

We recently became one of just 22 providers to be awarded Career College status. This significant investment will enable the College to provide an extra 1,000 places for 16 to 19-year-olds, who want to combine academic studies with practical, work-based learning.

These developments and facilities will complement the T Level curriculum as we prepare for the pilot.

It’s an honour and an exciting challenge for the College to be helping to roll out this pioneering new qualification, but it also represents a huge opportunity for regional businesses – one I’d urge them to get involved in.

If you’d like to find out more about T Levels and/or industry placements, please get in touch with our Work Placement Team workplacementteam@weston.ac.uk

With £2.7 billion sitting unused in apprenticeship levy accounts, it’s clear many organisations aren’t taking advantage of the funding they’re entitled to.

Here are three simple ways that you can make the most of your levy:

1) Upskill existing staff

The apprenticeship levy is essentially a training fund, which doesn’t have to be used on new recruits. You can upskill existing members of staff – in areas such as leadership or management – to develop a stronger workforce.

2) Fill a skills gap

The apprenticeship levy can be an effective way of bringing fresh talent into your organisation, particularly if there is a specific skill that you need. Remember, apprenticeships aren’t just for school leavers – you can employ higher and degree-level apprentices, who will be capable of making an immediate impact on your business.

3) Share your levy

You can now share up to 10% of your levy with another company. A popular way of doing this is by sharing it with organisations in your supply chain.

If you would like advice on the apprenticeship levy, get in touch with our Training Solutions team.

You can email apprenticeships@weston.ac.uk or call 01934 411 594.

Alternatively, you can find out more on the team’s webpage.