EAL latest news and updates – September 2025

Autumn is here after a sunny summer holiday – welcome to the EAL update for September 2025. Catch up with the latest news and events, and visit our LinkedIn page for more updates.

New ACE360 resources now available

Resources for the Level 3 Aircraft Maintenance Technician Standard (versions 1.0 and 1.1, both parts) have now been launched on ACE360.

If you're not currently an EAL customer but are considering using EAL as your end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) for this standard, our Regional Development Managers are here to help. Get in touch today to explore how we can support your delivery and assessment needs.

Ferguson Marine welcomes EAL and WCS representatives for Yard and Ferry Tour

Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) kindly hosted a visit for EAL EQA Ross Farmer and West College Scotland (WCS) staff Ann Walsh and Pauline Robertson, offering a guided tour of the shipyard and the Glen Rosa ferry currently undergoing refit.

West College Scotland is one of the largest educational institutions in Scotland, with over 500 learners currently progressing through EAL engineering qualifications. Ferguson Marine is a key employer partner, with WCS staff assessing 40 engineering apprentices on-site. 

The visit highlighted the importance of strong collaboration between industry and education, showcasing the real-world impact of vocational training and apprenticeship programmes.

Recruitment strategies for engineering and manufacturing businesses

Struggling to find skilled talent? You’re not alone. With engineering and manufacturing firms facing ongoing skills shortages, one often-overlooked solution is hosting a T Level industry placement.

Take Rigging Projects for example, a Southampton-based marine engineering firm. After rapid growth, they realised they needed to develop their talent pipeline, so partnered with Southampton College Group and welcomed Bradley, a T Level student who quickly became an integral part of their team as he contributed to everything from quality control to CNC programming.

T Levels offer businesses access to high-calibre, technically trained students through a 45-day industry placement, tailored around your needs. Many SMEs are now using placements as a low-risk, effective recruitment strategy, and finding future employees in the process.

“The onboarding was simple, and we’ll be hosting more students next year,” says Rigging Projects’ COO Sam Sainsbury. “It’s helped us meet real business needs.”

Watch our partner charity Enginuity’s video to hear how Rigging Projects are closing their skills gap with T Levels: 

Recruitment strategies for engineering and manufacturing businesses | Enginuity

Find out more about hosting a placement: Visit the T Levels site

EAL visits - Summer 2025

Read about our visits to colleges and training providers over the past couple of months, and see how we're living our values.

EAL visits September 2025 update | News

Exclusive podcast episode with Skills Minister Baroness Smith

Speaking exclusively to Steph McGovern on our partner charity’s podcast Steph on Skills: Powered by Enginuity, the Skills Minister revealed that the departmental restructure, announced in recent days, was designed to ensure that fewer people ‘fall out of the system’.

Watch the episode on YouTube: Episode 14: Skills Minister Exclusive

Take part in our Spotlight newsletter survey – and win!

Earlier this year we invited readers of EAL's monthly Spotlight newsletter to take part in our Readers’ Survey – and there is still time to get involved. Share your Spotlight experiences and views with us, and you could win a £25 Amazon voucher for your time. It’ll only take five minutes, so click the link below to get started.

Spotlight readers' feedback survey

Three new members join the Enginuity and EAL Board of Trustees

Enginuity and EAL are delighted to announce the appointment of three new board members. Read the announcement and find out more about our new appointees.

Enginuity and EAL welcome three new members to the Board of Trustees

Introducing multi-factor authentication

To enhance our security protocols, EAL has introduced multi-factor authentication (MFA) to its systems and applications. Find out what this means for you and for centres.

EAL multi-factor authentication for system and applications

EAL qualification review

We invite you to participate in our qualifications review. Read our article to discover which qualifications need your expertise.

EAL qualification review – September 2025