Cambridge business leader helping to create 'occupational maps' to guide new T-level qualifications

Daniela Florea, of Geo Strategies, encourages businesses and educators to get involved in consultation

Fifteen ‘occupational maps’ are being created to help shape the way that new T-level technical qualifications will be governed.

Businesses and educators are now being encouraged to take part in a consultation on the maps, which runs until January 25 online.

It is being run by the Institute for Apprenticeships which will begin to take on responsibilities from the Department for Education (DfE) for T-levels.

Antony Jenkins, chair of the Institute for Apprenticeships, said: “These maps will not only help provide the context in which T-levels apply to different industries and occupations, but also help determine the skills and training expected to be delivered as part of each separate qualification. It all starts here.

“We need the views of everyone involved at all stages of technical education and employment, from the classroom to the boardroom. I urge everyone to make their voice heard and work with us to help create a truly world-class technical education system.”

Daniela Florea, co-founder of Cambridge data and mapping company Geo Strategies Ltd, based in St John’s Innovation Centre, is working with the DfE and the Institute for Apprenticeships on the creation of T-level qualifications for digital services.

She said: “The particular focus of my panel is data and business services and my personal mission relates to data.

“One aspect of what we are moving towards is to differentiate data skills from general IT skills as we believe that the IT ‘umbrella’ is putting many young people off from a career for which they may be eminently capable. So, to ensure that the qualifications meet the needs of the sector, I urge you to go online and take part in the consultation. Please don’t miss this opportunity to explain what you, as a member of the sector, require.”

The maps capture technical occupations, not qualifications or specific jobs, and group those that require similar knowledge, skills and behaviours together. Apprenticeships are included. Among the maps are ‘Health and science’, ‘Agricultural, environmental and animal care’, ‘Creative and design’ and ‘Education and childcare’.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “T-levels will help to deliver a world class technical education system in our country and make sure that young people have the skills that employers and our economy need.

“This consultation is another step forward in introducing the 15 new technical routes which will bring together the expertise of industry, employers and education specialists. We would very much welcome views from the sector to develop this important stage of delivering T-levels.”