A college is calling on bosses to act fast to support new qualifications and benefit from cash incentives.

Furness College is encouraging employers across South Cumbria to support the new T Level qualifications and benefit from cash incentives of up to £20,000 for industry placements.

The college will launch T Levels in health, education and childcare, digital and science in September this year with new subjects including engineering and manufacturing in the pipeline.

T Levels are a new two-year technical qualification following GCSEs that offer an equivalent to three A Levels, and feature a compulsory industry placement to support a student’s readiness for employment.

Under the Government’s new incentive scheme firms will be able to claim £1,000 each for each T Level student they host on an industry placement from now until July 2022.

Furness College is partnering with University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust to offer 45-day industry placements to students across its T Level subjects but is urging other organisations to get on board

Assistant Principal for Curriculum Sue Hannan said the qualification provides a brilliant opportunity for businesses to employ young staff who are committed and ready to hit the ground running.

“This is the future for technical education and a placement will enable our students to experience the role while the employer benefits from fresh thinking and the new ideas that a 16-18 year old can bring.”

For more information email tlevels@furness.ac.uk