The Landscape Institute (LI) is partnering with City & Guilds (C&G) to deliver new agriculture and horticulture T-Levels, with the aim to facilitate increased industry joining success rates and tackle the hard-to-fill vacancies in the sectors.
T Levels are a new two-year technical qualification in England, available to 16 – 19-year-olds upon the completion of GCSEs. The programs provide an alternative to apprenticeships and A Levels, with one T Level equivalent to approximately three A Levels and is recognised as a level 3 qualification.
The LI is working with City & Guilds to deliver new Agriculture, Land Management and Production scheduled to begin in September 2023, on behalf of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE).
Industry employers will continue to contribute to the review and development of program content and assessments at regular intervals, ensuring T Level learners are equipped with industry level skills and knowledge to increase workforce joining success rates.
In an industry-wide assessment of skills and workforce issues in the wider landscape economy conducted by the LI in 2022, it was reported than over 50% of businesses in the sector have hard-to-fill vacancies.
The assessment concluded with the LI committing to providing an expanded careers outreach to engage a wider workforce demographic and tackle the skill shortage threat.
T Levels provide students practical on-the-job experience alongside knowledge-based learning with courses available at selected colleges, schools and other providers across England.