Young people across Greater Manchester are gaining new routes into vital public service careers thanks to a major expansion of T Level placements under the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate.
The initiative is creating hundreds of high-quality opportunities in the NHS and the Bee Network, the city-region’s integrated public transport system.
For the first time, students are undertaking T Level placements in midwifery at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust. Additional pledges from The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, and other health and care providers will see over 400 placements offered across clinical and non-clinical roles.
The MBacc, co-designed with educators, employers, and young people, uses local labour market data to guide learners into high-demand sectors. T Levels—two-year technical qualifications equivalent to three A Levels—are a key part of this strategy. Students spend 80% of their time in the classroom and 20% on industry placements lasting at least 45 days.
By September, students will be able to choose from hundreds of placements across Greater Manchester, including:
- Midwifery and maternity care at Royal Oldham Hospital
- Infection control and chemotherapy at The Christie
- Plumbing and electrical engineering at Pennine Care
- Engineering, transport operations, and project support with TfGM, Network Rail, and Bee Network operators
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:
“These placements show that our MBacc offers a genuine alternative to the university route. When you look at the kinds of placements on offer – from engineering to midwifery and chemotherapy – it's clear that a technical education opens doors to top professions.
“The opening up of more than 300 prestigious opportunities in our best-known public services will be a game-changer for many young people, creating a ladder into great careers which they might otherwise have struggled to access. At the same time, we’re creating the skilled workforce our economy and public services need.
“This is what devolution is all about, doing things differently to deliver better outcomes for everyone. The Growth Company has done groundbreaking work to drive up the number of placements from our major employers. With further devolution of post-16 education, we could unlock even more opportunities.
“I’d like to thank all those employers who’ve already pledged to create T Level placements and apprenticeships, and I’d urge more to get involved – so we can help our young people and our economy to fulfil their potential.”
The programme is backed by devolved investment and developed in partnership with NHS Greater Manchester, the Gatsby Foundation, and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). It aims to address critical workforce shortages while giving students the confidence and experience to succeed.
With 160 new placements pledged in transport for 2025 and strong collaboration between schools, colleges, and employers, Greater Manchester is setting a national example for how technical education can meet real-world needs.
Image credit: iStock
