Published on: 16 October 2025
There is much to celebrate at Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) this T Level Week (13 – 17 October), as its commitment to supporting students with getting hands on experience has received national recognition.
The Trust was highly commended in the West Midlands Region - The Gatsby T Level Employer of the Year Award 2025. The award recognises employers for delivering exemplary T Level industry placements and was presented at the Department for Education’s National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards.
This recognition highlights MPFT’s ongoing commitment to supporting T Level students to gain first-hand experience within the NHS, helping to develop the next generation of healthcare professionals.
A T Level is an industry-based qualification designed to offer students aged 16 to 19 a vocational and practical route of study, focusing on specific industry sectors. Equivalent to three A-levels, they combine classroom-based learning with practical work experience in their chosen field. The opportunity to apply learning in a real-world work setting prepares students for skilled employment or higher-level technical study or apprenticeships.
MPFT offers a wide range of NHS T Level placements in physical or mental health inpatient and community care, as well as corporate and support services to young people living in Staffordshire or Shropshire. The most recent cohort of 20 T Level students to complete work placements at the Trust achieved amazing results this summer, with some going straight into the workplace and others starting a higher-level apprenticeship or going on to university.
Jay said: “Being able to take the learning that I’ve done in college and bring it into placement has been really beneficial, especially when it comes to bigger projects. I can put all of the technique and skill that I’ve learnt at college into practice in the workplace; it melds together in a really nice way. I go to college three days a week, come into work two days a week and bring that knowledge back.”
Following completion of his T Level qualification, Jay was successful in securing a Trainee Application Developer Apprenticeship with the Trust and hopes to progress further within MPFT: “Luckily, there’s been talk about a potential degree apprenticeship route off the back of this, so that will definitely be something I’ll apply for – I can still see myself here in 10 years.”
Jamie Knapper, Senior Digital Operations Manager at MPFT describes how the Digital Team recognised supporting T Level students as a way to ‘grow your own’ talent: “We sat down with the students to understand their career aspirations. We then tailored the course to their interests and developed their skills. The work that they’ve been doing has been really valuable and is used by clinical and corporate staff across the Trust.”
MPFT currently hosts 11 T Level work placements and is due to welcome a new cohort of students in 2026. Jamie added: “We’re hoping that the students can feed into some of our entry-level roles and we’d like to see them getting permanent employment through apprenticeships so that we’re able to deliver even more and give them an opportunity to grow their career with us.”
You can watch a video about Jay’s story via MPFT’s YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/Qb3UPUtQTNY?si=Nq34pbaYTXc8grro For more information and advice on T Level opportunities at MPFT email careerdevelopment