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Technicians make the difference

Technicians play a crucial and exciting role right across society. Use our free resources to support your students to explore the diverse world of technician careers.

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Worker in lab coat and goggles cutting string

How we're supporting you

We know that students and teachers value quality careers information, education and guidance.

We’ve designed resources and case studies to help you inspire your students to consider a technician career – whether you’re a Careers Leader planning an assembly or a classroom teacher wanting to add some real-world context to a lesson.

Explore the resources below, or scroll further to find out about visiting our interactive Technicians Gallery at the Science Museum.

Explore further with a school visit to our interactive Science Museum gallery

Routes into technical careers

Information about the options available to students at age 16.

T-levels

T-levels began in 2020. There are eight different areas of technical focus, and this will expand over the next few years.

More about T-levels

  • A two year course which includes a placement in industry providing both knowledge and skills
  • Focuses on vocational skills and is equivalent to three A-levels
  • T-level students spend 80% of their time in college, being taught by industry specialists, and 20% in industry

What can T-levels lead to?
Once students have completed their T-levels, they can choose whether to continue into higher education to complete a higher technical qualification (HTQ) or go into employment. The time that students spend in industry during their course will have prepared them for the reality of the world of work and form the basis of a technical career.

T-levels are currently available in the following areas:

  • Agricultural, environmental and animal care
  • Business and administration
  • Construction
  • Digital
  • Engineering and manufacturing
  • Education and early years
  • Health and science
  • Legal, finance and accounting

In September 2024, the following T-levels will be added:

  • Animal care and management
  • Craft and design
  • Hairdressing, barbering and beauty therapy
  • Media, broadcast and production
Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships combine study with training in a paid job. There are apprenticeships in almost any career path students are interested in, for almost any career path, in all industries.

More about apprenticeships

  • Apprentices spend most of their time at work, with at least 20% of their time spent learning on the job
  • Apprenticeships are offered at all levels, but most 16-year-olds would enter an apprenticeship at Level 2 or 3. Level 2 is equivalent to
  • GCSEs and Level 3 is equivalent to A-levels and T-levels
  • They will work for a company, be treated as an employee, get paid, have a contract and the employer will pay for their college course
  • Apprenticeships take between one and five years depending on the level of the apprenticeship

At the end of an apprenticeship, students will have gained a formal qualification, usually at a Level 2 or 3 for school leavers, and have experience in the career path that they want to follow.

What can apprenticeships lead to?

  • A formal qualification
  • Employment in the career they want
  • A higher or degree level apprenticeship – equivalent to a foundation, bachelor or masters degree
  • Valuable workplace experience
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The Gatsby Benchmarks - Good Career Guidance

Find more information on how we support secondary schools and colleges in providing students with the best possible careers education information, advice and guidance on the Gatsby Benchmarks website.