T Level update - confirmation of additional support for T Levels

We are pleased to confirm the following support for providers and employers delivering T Levels and T Level industry placements.

• In addition to the wider 16-19 funding rates confirmed in March, a one-year, 5% uplift for all T Level funding bands for 2025/26.
• A new, targeted Employer Support Fund for financial year 2025/26. This will be available to support placement starting from 23rd April 2025 to 31st March 2026.
• Extension of the department’s T Level provider and employer support packages for a further year.

This continued financial investment is worth up to £26.5m to the sector in the next academic year.

5% T Level Funding Uplift for 2025/26

T Levels are now moving into their sixth year of delivery, with student entries up almost 60% between 2023/24 and 2024/25. We are now able to confirm an additional, one-year, 5% uplift for T Level funding bands for 25/26. This is on top of the 3.78% increase across all funding bands set out in the March funding guidance.

This uplift recognises the additional initial cost for providers transitioning from study programmes to T Levels in the 2025/26 academic year. T Levels continue to be funded in higher funding bands to reflect their additional learning hours, and with £550 per student to support the administration of the industry placement. We have also issued capital funding to help eligible providers to purchase industry-standard equipment for courses that they are delivering for the first time starting this September.

Targeted Employer Support Fund

We recognise that some sectors and employers face specific upfront costs to delivering industry placements. We are therefore pleased to confirm a targeted Employer Support Fund for financial year 2025/26. This will be available to support placement starting from 23^rd April 2025 to 31^st March 2026 and contribute to the essential costs for all employers hosting Health T Level students and SMEs providing placements for all other T Levels. This funding responds to feedback from previous pilots about higher upfront costs for these employers, and is designed to be used where placements could otherwise not be offered.

In addition, the Chancellor confirmed on 23^rd March a package to support skilled construction workers; this includes funding to support T Level placements in financial year 2025-26.

We will publish more details in due course outlining how all placement funding will operate, including information on how to claim from the funds.

Provider and Employer Support Packages

We are pleased to confirm that the Department's Provider Support and Employer Packages will be extended for an additional year. The Association of Colleges supports providers with implementation and planning support through a range of webinars, 1-to-1 support and resources. Alongside this the SDN supports providers to effectively engage with employers to source industry placements, as well as working directly with employers to raise awareness of and engagement in T Levels Support is available and free of charge and we encourage all providers and employers to take up the respective offers. The T Level Professional Development Programme also remains in place for the forthcoming academic year.