A T LEVEL placement turned out to be more than just work experience for Skye Charters – it was the start of a wonderful career. Now, she’s helping others take the same step.
At 20-years-old, Skye from Chippenham, is proof of how hands-on learning can lead straight into skilled employment.
When she started her Engineering T Level at Wiltshire College & University Centre in 2022, she knew she wanted to learn by doing – not just sitting in lectures.
“The T Level was both classroom and workshop,” she says. “That variety was the perfect mix for me.”
Finding a placement wasn’t instant but the College’s Work Placement Team helped with CVs, cover letters and outreach – and found a great industry placement for Skye’s next step in her T Level journey.
Her placement with MPD Pumps – a small, family-run business in Melksham that specialises in commercial pump installation and repair – took her everywhere from Coventry to large London sites. The hours were real, and so was the learning.
“The basics I learned in the College workshop – hand tools, drills, health and safety – gave me the confidence to take on bigger tasks at work,” she said. “The course itself explained even the complex parts really clearly, step by step.”
As the placement rolled on, Skye stayed beyond the required 315 hours. “By the end I’d done about triple the hours. I loved it, so I just kept going,” she says. MPD made the decision to pay Skye for her hard work, and when she finished college, the official offer came: “From September, with a proper contract, I was taking on more responsibility – managing jobs, designing systems and doing some programming.”
How T Levels work for employers
Through THE BIG Placement Pledge, Wiltshire College & University Centre is working with more employers to create those same opportunities. Join the campaign and offer a placement to an aspiring student this year.
For MPD, the benefits were immediate. “A T Level student is an extra pair of hands and a fresh pair of eyes,” says Skye. Now a full-time employee, she supervises another T Level student from Wiltshire College and sees the benefits from the employer’s side.
Their current student, Leon, has slotted easily into the team and the workflow. “Leon fits in really well – he observes, then gets on with it. On busy breakdowns it genuinely eases the workload but having a student with us in the team also keeps our skills sharp,” said Skye.
Flexibility matters, too. “T Level hours can flex. When Leon has exams, we give him fewer days, then add more in the holidays so he can still hit his target,” Skye explains.
The variety of work means no two weeks look the same – and students experience the real pace of the industry.
Skye is clear about the value of T Level: “It’s a Level 3, so it hasn’t limited me. I’ve not found a single thing I can’t apply for because the T Level is so broad.” From site cards and safety certifications to potential Level 4/5 study later on, she sees a pathway that grows with her.
She also encourages other businesses to get one: “Get one. There’s no extra cost if you don’t choose to pay, and you’re giving someone vital experience. Train someone to your standard from the start and you’ll keep that standard. The loyalty you build is real.”
As the only female on her original course, Skye is passionate about seeing more women in the industry and advises others to “find the right employer who has your back – you can do it.”
Today, Skye plans MPD’s service schedule, picks jobs that build skills, and helps shape a placement that works for the student and the business. “Every day is different,” she says. “Engineering is one big puzzle – and I love solving it.”
Start your own T Level journey
Could your business give a student their first real taste of industry?
Join THE BIG Placement Pledge and help shape Wiltshire’s future workforce.
Or interested in studying T Levels? Find out more here.
