T Level students named as finalists in Enginuity awards

We are proud to announce two of our T Level students have fended off competition from across the UK to be named as finalists in the prestigious Enginuity Skills Awards.

The awards, now in its 10^th year, recognises the ‘best and brightest’ young talent in engineering and manufacturing. Winners will be announced on June 5, 2024, at an awards ceremony in Birmingham.

Our students Elliot Barton and Jamie Baines make up two-thirds of the T Level Student category of the awards, with other categories recognising apprentices and employers who also showcase excellence in skills development.

Enginuity, the charity dedicated to closing skills gaps in UK engineering and manufacturing, said the T Level award recognises students whose ‘commitment to learning and skills development in both education and the workplace positions them as an inspiring role model for careers in engineering and manufacturing’.

Elliot, who as part of his T Level secured an industry placement with Barnsley IT firm Always Networks, said: “My T Level journey sparked a time of real growth and resilience for me. Choosing the T Level course has benefited me in that it’s pushed me to challenge myself practically and academically in a way that a traditional study route would not have been able to.

“With a solid understanding of networking, cybersecurity, and IT, I’m considering various paths that suit my interests and skills. I feel equipped to pursue opportunities that come my way.”

Jamie, who has worked with the Sheffield branch of computing company ARM, said: “I chose a T Level because I was drawn to the idea of practical learning, where I could immediately apply the skills and knowledge gained in the course.

“One of the biggest benefits for me has been the support and guidance I received from my tutors and mentors who are aware that I am autistic. They helped me further develop my programming skills, going above and beyond to ensure I had the right knowledge and support to succeed. This support played a crucial role in impressing my team leader at ARM, a semiconductor and software designer based in Sheffield, where I have secured my work placement opportunity.

“I’m aiming to begin my tech career somewhere I can put my programming skills and passion to good use. It’s all about finishing strong, gaining experience, and eventually finding a place where I can thrive and make a difference. I’m ready to take on the challenge and make my mark in the tech world.”

Barnsley College Digital and Creative Industries Course Leader Thomas Baigent said of Elliot and Jamie: “Elliot is not merely a student; he is a role model, embodying the values of dedication, innovation, and leadership that the T-Level Award seeks to honour.

“Jamie’s influence hasn’t stopped in the classroom; he left a lasting impression on a guest speaker from Cognizant. This demonstration of excellence opened doors to an extraordinary opportunity – an offer of tutelage from Cognizant, propelling Jamie’s programming skills to new heights beyond the course.”

T Levels are courses for 16- to 18-year-olds that are studied at the same level as doing A Levels. They are for young people who prefer a more technical education when they come to College, rather than following a purely academic pathway, or a work-based apprenticeship.

Find out more about our T Level opportunities here.