At Wates, we know that the future of our industry depends on the opportunities we create for people.
As National T-Levels Week comes to an end, it is a proud moment to reflect on how far we’ve come in supporting young people through this route, as well as our continued commitment to reimagining futures for the next generation in our industry.
Since the qualification launched, we are nearing our 100th T-Level student and are currently linking with 33 colleges across the UK. I am proud to say that T-Levels are embedded across all areas of our business, with both commercial and public sector clients. Wates’ commitment spans well beyond our framework partnership with the Department for Education (DfE) to construct new schools, and delivery is also encouraged throughout our supply chain.
Each T-Level placement gives learners the opportunity to put classroom knowledge into practice on real projects, guided by our experienced teams who help them build skills, confidence and ambition.
To ensure every learner gets the most from their experience, we have developed a dedicated Wates T-Levels Framework, providing a consistent, high-quality structure for placements across our sites and offices. Alongside this, we have launched an interactive T-Levels Hub – a digital platform offering students and mentors access to learning materials, safety guidance and personal development tools.
This hub helps students feel prepared and confident before stepping onto the site, while giving our colleagues the resources they need to support and mentor effectively. It also forms part of our wider commitment to creating an experience that goes beyond work placements – helping young people develop skills for life, not just for employment.
For Wates, T-Levels are far more than a qualification. They represent a partnership between education and industry that drives innovation, connects us with new talent, and strengthens our culture of continuous learning. By listening to feedback from students, mentors and colleagues, we continue to evolve and improve our approach every year.
Also, we will continue to share insights and stories from students both past and present, as well as from the mentors who have supported them along the way. Their experiences capture the real impact and meaning of these placements in action.
At its heart, T-Levels reflect what Wates stands for: creating opportunities, supporting communities and reimagining futures. We’ve seen the immense benefits of offering T-Level placements for students, for our teams and for our business.
I encourage other organisations across the industry to get involved and play their part in shaping our future workforce.
Together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive and sustainable sector for generations to come.
