From classroom to community: how T Level placements benefit Business Improvement District
Newbury Business Improvement District (BID) is a business-led, business-funded not-for-profit organisation, formed by local businesses to support the town centre and help businesses work together towards a shared vision.
In 2025, Newbury BID partnered with Newbury College to provide Industry Placement opportunities to T Level students. An Industry Placement is the work-placement element at the heart of a T Level. Students complete a minimum of 315 hours (approximately 45 days) with an employer, typically delivered in blocks or day-release patterns.
Liam Sheppard, Assistant Manager at Newbury BID, shares his experience and talks about students are bringing learning from the classroom and applying it in his organisation.
“The T Level students have brought us a raft of new skills during their placements. From the education back at the college, they really put what they’re learning into practice with us. They give us lots of new ideas about how we should be thinking or positioning different things. The students have been a creative spark, allowing us to really develop our strategies for the year.”
Liam also points to how quickly students have grown in professionalism and independence.
“When they came in, they were already fantastic young professionals. Over the year, their qualities and skills have really improved as independents in the business world. We quickly realised we don’t need to be with the students too much day to day. We can set a task and they help us deliver part of our work as well. They’ve been a great help.”
A key theme in Liam’s message is that students weren’t given token work. They were trusted with meaningful tasks, including major public events.
“The tasks we set are not easy, but the students have really delivered. One of the students was asked to help support us on our Christmas lights switch-on. He handled it right from twelve o’clock through till seven o’clock, introducing people onto the stage, seeing them off the stage, making sure that everything ran to time. [He] had glowing feedback from the directors on how he handled the day.”
Liam describes Industry Placements as a way to strengthen the future workforce pipeline, bringing in new ideas and new ways of thinking. He links placements to employability and the wider economy, because students build meaningful experience before entering the job market.
“It helps shape the future talent pipeline: you get new ideas, new mindsets, and new philosophies. When they’re out speaking with our businesses, they’re bubbly, lively. The businesses really want to see the next generation come through. The benefit… is that the students are gaining real-world knowledge and skills. Rather than just sitting papers and sitting exams and then looking for a job, they already have that experience which they can detail on their CV. The experiences they’ve had will really shape their future.”
He also describes a community benefit: students feel part of something bigger, and businesses feel connected to young talent, something that has boosted the morale in his team.
“Having the students has boosted our energy on a Monday morning. The students come in with that desire to learn. They’ve really motivated our internal team as well.”
Liam’s guidance is grounded and specific: plan the placement properly, match tasks to the course, and build learning into the experience.
“If companies are considering T Level students for the first time, I’d recommend thinking about what you would like to provide. Think about what T Level courses the students are on and then try to mirror what projects and tasks you would like to be filled during the year. They can be a great source of motivation and creative flair.”