T-level industry placements as a pipeline to apprentice recruitment: BAE Systems

For many employers T-levels are forming a pipeline to recruitment, with T-level graduates moving either immediately into skilled employment, into an apprenticeship, or joining businesses following further relevant study. The T-level industry placement of 45-days provides an opportunity for employers to build relationships with students and show them the variety of progression opportunities available to them. BAE Systems have integrated T-levels into their talent strategy and here share how it works for them.

BAE Systems, a prominent UK engineering firm, is engaging with T-levels as a key part of their talent pipeline.  The company offers placements across Engineering and Manufacturing, Business and Administration, and Digital routes. Anyone studying a T-level can apply for a placement at BAE Systems through an open recruitment application process, which gives students from across England the opportunity to apply.  Students complete an online application and assessment, and if successful progress to interview.  BAE Systems have chosen to put a strong emphasis on this application process to enable them to purposefully streamline their recruitment process from T-levels to apprenticeships; when a student who has undertaken a placement with BAE Systems completes their T-level they could move straight into an apprenticeship with the company (Level 3 to Level 6 as appropriate).

Through careful scheduling with education providers to avoid clashes with students' assessments, T-level students may carry out a placement during October to February of their second year of study. Aligning with BAE’s apprenticeship recruitment and onboarding window, students are then able to step straight from their T-level to an apprenticeship with the rest of the company’s apprentice intake, and maximise on the knowledge and skills they have developed while on their T-level.

BAE’s aim is to host students for the whole placement or, if appropriate, for a minimum of two-thirds of the placement time.  This enables the company to strengthen their relationship with the student and fully embed them into their team, as well as easing any security clearance logistics.  Placements at BAE Systems are taken at the route level, meaning that students can be placed across a wide range of teams, giving them opportunities to see the diverse range of occupations that the business offers.

If you are an education provider and are interested in T-level placements at BAE Systems you can find out more information here: https://www.baesystems.com/en/careers/careers-in-the-uk/apprenticeships/t-level-industry-placements

BAE Systems T-level Placements application window runs throughout March 2025 and is open to students from across England.

If you are an employer and would like to find out more about how your organisation can get involved with T-level industry placements, visit: employers.tlevels.gov.uk