Bury St Edmunds-based West Suffolk Hospital trust and West Suffolk College announce work placements link-up during national T Levels week

The NHS trust that runs West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds is celebrating more than 10 years of working with West Suffolk College (WSC) by creating a partnership that will offer 45-day work experience placements for students on T Level courses.

T Level programmes were first launched by the government in September 2020. The qualifications have been designed by employers and the government with the aim of giving the workforce of tomorrow the skills they need to hit the ground running when they start their careers.

Whilst on the two-year (T Level) programme – that are equivalent to three A-levels - learners have to accrue 350 hours of industry experience.

Thanks to the ongoing relationship between the two organisations spanning almost two decades, West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust has agreed to provide all placements for learners studying on their two health-related T Levels.

This partnership has been announced during national T Levels week, a campaign that aims to raise awareness of these qualifications.

Naomi Meara, head of health and applied sciences at West Suffolk College, said: “We started health care science and health care therapeutic T Levels in September and we have been working for over a year with the hospital to set this up.

“Our BTEC students will be trialling the placements this year, and then in June 2023 T-Level learners will come to the Drummond Education Centre, based in the hospital grounds, for a one-week induction. Then from September 2023, the 45-day placement will commence.

“Whilst on the placements, students will gain skills and knowledge in healthcare, nursing, therapies and other services, gaining experiences in a variety of different job roles within the NHS. This will help them inform their decisions in terms of the future career paths.”

On why people should consider T Levels as an option, Naomi added: “They [T Levels] give students hands-on experience, combined with an educational backbone that will enable them to become successful.”

Hannah Swallow is a work placement assessment officer for health and social sciences at West Suffolk College and played a key role in setting up the partnership.

She said: “We can’t thank West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust enough. They have gone above and beyond to enable this link-up to happen.”

Diane Last, head of clinical education at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted to be further developing our many years of partnership working with the West Suffolk College by offering industry placements at the hospital to students who are following particular T-Level courses.

"This is such a positive choice, with the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of roles in the health service, follow a path to onward employment and training, and gain practical skills.

"We have a rich heritage in our workforce of WSC students who have chosen to come and work with us, pursuing further learning and achieving their full potential, which of course brings a benefit to our whole community.”

On the ongoing partnership with the college, she added: “It [the partnership] is essential and it’s important we engage with the local community to help us with our future recruitment. I’ve no doubt some of the students who work with us will end up as future employees. We are very excited to be involved in this project.”

Cassandra Fisher, group head of industry work placements and connections at the college, said: “T Levels are important in levelling up technical education and teaching future skills to students by bringing industry into the classroom.

“Partnering up with West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust on this project can raise aspirations and open doors for students and we are very grateful to them for their ongoing support.”

If you are a business who would like to work with the college by offering work placements to students on T Level programmes or other courses, you can email cassandra.fisher@wsc.ac.uk or call 07919 508227.

For a full list of T Level courses on offer at West Suffolk College, visit the website.