Celebrating T Levels week: Your guide to T Levels

T Levels Week is a time to recognise the achievements of learners, educators, and employers who are driving forward the next generation of technical skills. As an organisation committed to supporting technical excellence, EAL is proud to play a key role in delivering and developing T Level qualifications that help young people build meaningful, skilled careers in engineering and manufacturing.

Taking place from Monday 13 October to Friday 17 October, T Levels week aims to promote T Levels, highlighting their success and increasing awareness of the available subjects and opportunities.

What are T Levels?

T Levels are two-year programmes for students aged 16 to 19, offering a high-quality alternative to A Levels and apprenticeships. Each T Level is a Level 3 qualification, equivalent to three A Levels, combining classroom learning with a substantial industry placement.

Introduced in 2021 for Construction & Building Services Engineering and in 2022 for Engineering & Manufacturing, T Levels are designed to prepare learners for employment, apprenticeships, or higher education.

Developed in partnership with employers, T Levels ensure students gain the technical knowledge and hands-on skills that industries need most. Programme content and assessments are reviewed regularly with employer input, keeping them aligned with current and future workforce demands.

T Levels are available in England only and are now one of the main routes for learners after GCSEs, alongside apprenticeships and A Levels.

Benefits of T Levels

T Levels offer a range of advantages for learners, employers, and the wider sector:

• Industry-ready skills – Learners gain real experience through a 45-day industry placement, giving them a head start in their chosen field.
• Employer collaboration – Employers help shape the content, ensuring qualifications meet real sector needs.
• Clear career pathways – T Levels open routes into skilled employment, apprenticeships, or university-level study.
• UCAS points and progression – T Levels carry UCAS points, meaning learners can use their qualification to apply for university or higher-level study if they choose to continue their education.
• Recognition and value – With one T Level equivalent to three A Levels, learners earn a qualification that’s widely respected by employers and higher education providers alike.

T Levels we offer

EAL works in partnership with City & Guilds to deliver Generation 1 of the Engineering & Manufacturing and Construction & Building Services Engineering T Level technical qualifications.

Following a competitive tendering process by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), WJEC Eduqas, in partnership with EAL, have been awarded the contract to develop and deliver the next generation of T Levels in Building Services Engineering for Construction, and Onsite Construction.

Designed with input from EAL’s Employer Industry Board, these qualifications ensure alignment with current apprenticeship standards and evolving sector requirements:

Construction & Building Services Engineering

• T Level Technical Qualification in Building Services Engineering for Construction (8710)
• T Level Technical Qualification in Onsite Construction (8711)

Engineering & Manufacturing

• T Level Technical Qualification in Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing (8714)
• T Level Technical Qualification in Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing (8712)
• T Level Technical Qualification in Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control (8713)

T Levels success spotlight

EAL also celebrated T Level success at the Enginuity Skills Awards 2025, where EAL and Eduqas sponsored the T Level Student of the Year award. The award recognises a learner whose dedication to study and skills development, both in education and the workplace, makes them an inspiring role model for future careers in engineering and manufacturing.

The winner, Mohammed Mahmood, a T Level student at Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group, came to the UK from Sudan with limited English and no industry experience. Determined to build a new future, he chose a T Level in Building Services Engineering, gaining technical and practical skills through placements with Sodexo and 24-7 Group while supporting his family.

In a standout moment, Mohammed returned to the stage to win the Best of British Engineering Award, sponsored by Enginuity. Selected from all category winners, this top honour celebrates individuals whose innovation, leadership, and real-world impact are helping to drive the engineering and manufacturing sector forward. Mohammed’s achievements highlight both his personal excellence and the true, industry-ready potential of T Level learners.

Celebrating vocational pathways

This year, EAL and our partner charity Enginuity have launched Vocational Celebration Day, a new national initiative to shine a spotlight on the power and value of vocational education. Taking place on 6 August 2026, the day is set to celebrate the learners, employers, and training providers who power our industries.

At EAL, we believe T Levels are more than just qualifications. By combining technical education with real industry experience, T Levels are helping young people gain the confidence, skills, and ambition to build successful careers and strengthen the UK’s technical industries. 

Find out more about our T Levels Discover more about Vocational Celebration Day