T Level Employer Support Fund 2026-27 financial year

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Employer Support Fund (ESF) for the 2026–27 financial year, with the opt-in process now live for providers.

This targeted funding is designed to help remove financial barriers for employers delivering high-quality T Level industry placements, supporting placements that begin between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027.

This year’s fund can be used to support:

• employers of all sizes offering industry placements for the Health T Level. Based on feedback from previous funds and with typically more predictable employer costs for supporting Health placements, funding will be provided on a fixed-rate basis of £800 per student commencing a Health placement within FY26-27; and
• SMEs offering industry placements for all other T Levels - excluding the Construction route for which separate funding is in place alongside wider Level 2 and Level 3 construction industry placement funding arrangements. Providers will be able to use their allocated SME funding to support employers with specific costs incurred. Whilst this funding is intended to contribute towards essential costs it may not be sufficient to meet all requests made by employers. Providers will need to make value-for-money decisions and balance the needs of different employers to maximise the impact of the fund in considering how to allocate their funding.

Providers are encouraged to opt in to one or both funding streams via the online form, which has been shared via email, by noon on 13 July 2026 in order to receive an allocation.

Further details, including eligibility criteria and examples of supported costs, are available in the full ESF 2026–27 guidance. 

If your organisation has not received the opt-in email and you believe you are eligible, please contact us at Employer.SUPPORTFUND@education.gov.uk