National T Level Week: How KX Recruit CIC Is Helping Students Build Their Future
For National T Level Week 2026 (19th-23rd of October), KX Recruit CIC (KXR CIC) is celebrating the value of industry placements and its commitment to helping the next generation of talent thrive.
National T Level week is an annual celebration in the United Kingdom that aims to raise awareness of the new qualification. This week aims to highlight employer-designed technical qualifications aimed at preparing 16–19-year-olds of skilled careers, apprenticeships, or further study.
What is a T level?
A T Level is a 2-year vocational course designed for students aged 16-19 who want to gain practical skills as well as the educational knowledge the course provides. Students are often unsure about T Levels, as they have doubts about their ability to attend university after taking a T Level course. This is not a worry! A T Level is equivalent in size to three A levels, providing the same ability to attend universities, as three A levels would. The T Level is intended to prepare students for skilled employment, an apprenticeship, or higher education, so it includes a placement of at least 315 hours, which is approximately 45 days.
There are 23 T Levels in 2026, and it’s planned to increase by 2028. Some include; Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control, Health, Science, Accounting, Finance, Legal Services, Marketing. Each course aims to make you comfortable for that career.
T Level requirements are not fixed and depends more on the schools hosting the T Level.
What is SkillsBuilder?
Skillsbuilder is a digital learning platform that we use to measure students’ soft skills on. We use this to identify everybody’s strengths and weaknesses and help them better their skills. These skills include listening, speaking, problem solving, creativity, planning, adapting, leadership and teamwork. At the end of students’ industry placements, we use Skillsbuilder to look back on their progress.
What if your T Level placement could be the first step towards your dream career?
T Levels combine classroom learning with practical industry experience, how students write captions, communicate with colleagues or engage with local businesses. But an industry placement is more than just meeting to the requirements of a T Level course, it helps students shape their future, and open their eyes to real world opportunities, challenges, and experiences.
Innovation through real-world experience
At KX Recruit CIC, we believe innovation is not just about new technology or ideas. It is also about investing in people and finding ways to help them succeed.
In 2026, KX Recruit CIC has welcomed 4 students, for T levels, displaying their commitment to providing students with work opportunities. These local students gain knowledge and experience. We have taken on students from schools in the boroughs of Camden and Islington, like Parliament Hill School and Haverstock School.
Through industry placements, students can learn how a particular experience could help them in a future role or interview skills. It also demonstrates how they collaborate with colleagues on a social media campaign or other projects. They can also learn how organisations operate and take responsibility for tasks. All these experiences help students gain a better understanding of the workplace and its expectations.
These experiences can make a difference, even long after a placement ends. Students can use their new skills, which tasks and projects they contribute to, and what responsibilities they have. According to the Department for Education, 27% of T Level students gained employment at the organisation where they completed their industry placement. In a world where rates of unemployment in young people are high, T Levels may be a great way to support students looking for employment. Their skills can also be used when attending interviews or applying for further education and employment.
Real experiences, real growth
What better way to understand the value of a placement than to hear from the students themselves?
Every student has a different journey. One might discover a new career interest, while another develops the confidence to share ideas or take on unfamiliar responsibilities. One of our T Level students approached us wanting to develop his problem-solving skills. We created a tailored plan designed to strengthen this essential skill through various practical tasks. One of these projects involved writing a blog post about KXR CIC, which challenged him to think outside the box and approach the task from different perspectives. Although he encountered some challenges along the way, he persevered until he had produced a successful blog post that the entire team was proud of. This experience highlights how KXR CIC uses practical, real-world projects to help students develop their skillset and overcome challenges.
At KX Recruit CIC, student experiences can help demonstrate the real impact of workplace learning.
“In the beginning I was nervous entering the workplace. It was a big step for me but after spending some time at KX Recruit, I feel more confident and look forward to continuing my placement” – A T Level student who attended KX Recruit CIC for their work placement in 2026.
One task set by the team at KXR CIC for T Level students, was to create social media posts on TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn. The students were able to utilise their creative freedom and network with other local businesses in the King’s Cross community. Here at KXR CIC we get students involved in tasks which hold value and make them feel a part of the team. This way, students get a fully immersive feel of the workplace.
Our experience at KXR CIC
“Since being at KXR CIC, us students have had the opportunity to create digital content for the company’s social media pages, like TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn. Doing so has definitely boosted our creativity skills and helped us understand how to create content that reflects the company’s brand and message. From sitting in on team meetings to getting a behind-the-scenes look at assessment days, our time at KXR CIC has been full of exciting opportunities to see how things work in a real professional environment. We’ve had the chance to experience different aspects of the organisation, learn from the people around us and get involved in activities. The whole experience has been not only insightful but enjoyable too. With all the skills we have gained from this experience, we now feel prepared for real-life workplace conditions.”
Other benefits of a T level industry placement at KX Recruit CIC:
Practical skills: New skills that can be applied to real world scenarios in the workplace.
Confidence: Your communication skills become more effective, and a better understanding of the workplace is gained.
Future opportunities: Gain experience, which in future will add value to your CV.
Inclusion: Feel comfortable in a supportive environment that values your strengths and weaknesses.
What happens after the placement?
Practical experience can help students identify their strengths, weaknesses, and make informed decisions about their next steps. For example, developing communication skills can help with interviews, while working collaboratively can prepare students for future roles that involve teamwork and leadership.
Placements also allow students to connect classroom knowledge with real situations, giving them examples of their abilities that they can discuss with future employers.
For T Level teachers, placements also create networking opportunities for the schools. These connections can lead to future partnerships with local employers. They can also help schools keep their teaching relevant to current industry practices and skills.
A placement may last for a limited time, but the skills, experience and how students become more comfortable sharing ideas, presenting content or taking on tasks independently. gained will benefit the students for long after their education comes to an end.
Could a T Level be the next step on your pathway?
T Levels are a fantastic way of mixing of learning and practical experience. You’ll spend 315hours working in industry, which not only enhances your CV but also gives you real life valuable work experience. This hands-on experience helps you build useful skills, make industry connections, and discover whether a technical role suits you.
Find out more about national T Levels week here: T Levels Week – 19 to 23 October 2026 – T Levels support for schools and colleges
To find out other ways KXR CIC can support schools and students, get in touch with our Programmes and Outreach Manager, Niamh: [email protected]
This blog post was written by two KXR CIC T Level students.
<<< BACK TO News & Tips