The Department for Education (DfE) is looking for an organisation to support the implementation of the first T level transition offer from 2020.

It will support those who may not quite be ready to access level 3 technical education, but who will be able to reach that level by age 19, and give them the support they need to progress.

The transition offer will be targeted at young people who are not ready to start a T level at age 16, but who can realistically achieve it by age 19.

Read more: First awarding bodies for new T levels announced

More news: T levels: Second wave of subjects announced

Background: T levels: what we know so far

The DfE would not disclose the value of the contract on the grounds of “commercial sensitivity”. The organisation that is successful in the procurement process will help to:

• Support an advisory panel to contribute to further thinking on the content of the transition offer.
• Provide support for participating post-16 providers to develop, package and deliver their local T level transition offer.
• Encourage and facilitate participating providers to explore different approaches to implementing certain elements of the transition offer.

'Welcome news'

Skills minister Anne Milton said the transition offer was an important part of the process and would help young people, who might not quite be ready, get up to speed with the basic skills and gain the confidence they needed before starting their T level.

She added: “We are running a short procurement to appoint an experienced organisation to support the first T level providers to run a phased implementation of the transition offer in 2020-21.”

Julie Oxley, chair of the Digital Production, Design and Development T level panel, welcomed the announcement, adding: “As we prepare to roll out the T level programme, this is a positive step forward as the transition offer will provide important tailored provision to support students to develop the academic skills, technical skills, knowledge and behaviours required to progress onto a T level.

“This is welcome news for the digital industry as it gives more students the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge needed to access the jobs of tomorrow, a sustainable career and successfully contribute to the growing and rapidly changing economy.”

The delivery agent will be procured via the DfE’s dynamic purchasing system and the bidding process will run for 15 working days.