Allie Le, People and Culture Manager at F&F Stores Ltd, says that the company’s partnership with MK College is helping them build future talent and deliver it social responsibility goals.

Founded in 2015, F&F Stores is a rapidly expanding E-commerce business based in Milton Keynes. Allie explains that the company started working with MK College just over 12 months ago.

“I arranged a meeting with MK College and it was so valuable for us. After that meeting, we organised an in-house Multiply maths training course to support our warehouse team. Multiply is a government-funded programme that helps adults improve their numeracy skills. Many of our team members don’t hold formal qualifications, so this training was particularly useful given their work with stock inventory. The feedback on the tutors was that they were very supportive.”

The company has since gone on to offer industry placements to T Level students. “We’ve had three T Level students join us since September last year, in different departments. After their 45-day placements with us, we received lots of good feedback from our managers.”

Allie highlights several key benefits to the partnership with MK College. “Firstly it’s an opportunity to enhance our visibility in the community and with young talent for the future,” she said. “Secondly, it benefits our existing employees through training and apprenticeships. Finally it’s about social responsibility – we want to support the community, and we’re especially passionate about working with MK College to give students work experience. It’s often difficult for young people to get these kinds of opportunities.”

When asked why they chose to partner with MK College, Allie said: “There are two main reasons – one is location, but the other is the support and responsiveness of the college. They are very proactive in contacting employers to create opportunities for students. I’ve visited the campus many times and it’s very inspiring. We’re pleased to play a small part in supporting students and the college on this journey.”

“We recently got involved by sponsoring MK College’s 2025 Student of the Year Award for English and Maths, which was a brilliant way to show our support for education and young talent. We really enjoyed the recent employer showcase too – it was a great reminder of how businesses like ours can help young people get started in their careers. Doing things like this is part of how we show our commitment to the local community, and it feels genuinely meaningful for everyone involved.”

The business also supports apprenticeships. “We have an apprentice working with us as an accounts assistant, studying and working at the same time. In just over a year, I’ve seen the benefits of this partnership.”

The company is also exploring new ways to support a diverse range of learners. “We’re now running another placement with a student who has additional learning needs as a trial, and in the future, we’d like to expand this.”

Reflecting on their experience with MK College she added: “It’s all gone well – fantastic! The college responds very quickly to any questions we have. If any issues come up, we can sort them out together. They’re always supportive.”

When asked what advice she would give to other employers considering working with MK College, Allie said: “Working with a local college is very beneficial for small and medium-sized businesses. We don’t have a big budget, so the partnership is very helpful for both sides. For us, we’ve chosen this path and we believe it works. Just start with a conversation with the employer engagement team – see what opportunities they can offer.”

To find out more about offering work placements through MK College, contact the Work Experience Team at: workexperienceteam@mkcollege.ac.uk

 Hello! Who are you and what are you studying? 

Hi! I’m Marcia-Belle and I’m studying a Construction T Level in Design, Planning and Surveying. I’m in my second and final year of my studies. 

What motivated you to choose your course? 

I did a Construction GCSE, so I got into it through there; we had workshops, did woodwork, designs, planning and online work. My grandad also works in the construction industry, so throughout my life I would learn bits and pieces from him; my dad came here and studied some of the construction courses as well, so my family and school got me into it. 

How are you finding your studies and do you feel like you’ve made the right decision with your course? 

100% I’ve made the right choice with my course. I love it and I’ve really learned so much, but it’s the people that are the best thing about the course. It’s a very small class – only 11 of us – and we’ve all become very close, and I really do treasure the people in my class. 

Where did you do your work placement and how did you find it? 

I am doing my placement with WJ Construction where I work once a week. I do a lot of shadowing and I’ve done a lot of work with their sustainability team because that’s what I’m really interested in. 

I really enjoy it because it gives a proper real-life experience of working in a company. When I joined, they said they wanted to allow me to try a bit of everything, which I’ve managed to do. I’ve really been accepted into the company culture too. 

Have you encountered any challenge at your workplace and how did you overcome them? 

I think my biggest challenge has been opening up to new people. I’m one of the first student placements they’ve taken on, so it’s been a lot of adjustment for myself and the company. Meeting all the new people and trying to impress them because they’ve been doing their job for years and I’m obviously very new. 

But I think that’s also one of the best parts because you’re the new face and you get to have a fresh impression for everyone – and you can ask a lot of questions!

What are your highlights from your time at the College?        

There are many! I’d definitely say one highlight has been my sustainability work with the College – I’m in the Student Sustainability Committee and I took part in the Planet Earth Games and won the student prize at MK College, which was exciting. Student of the Year is another one of my top highlights – the event was the greatest thing ever and I loved how student-run it was with the Catering students working there. 

I also met my best friend in College. I think the College is a great place for making friends because it’s a very non-judgmental place. One thing I love about the college culture is how people express themselves with how they dress. 

I like being more independent with my work and I’d say the highlight of the College has been the independence in how you produce your work – you can take your own lead on it. 

Have you done other courses at the College as well? 

Yes! I participated in the “Embedding Sustainable Procurement” online class, which was part of the Planet Earth Games – I somehow managed to convince my class to come to it with me! It was really nice to share my interests with the class. 

I also did a Retrofit course, which is about how you can better old buildings. 

What are your future career aspirations? What are your plans for achieving them? 

I’ve signed up for the HNC in Construction next year which would be good because it’s one day a week and the rest of the time I would be working. I’m planning on taking the Sustainability online course as well. 

I really would love to create something as well; one of my biggest dreams is to create my own company and I’m hoping to work with a company that would give me the experience for starting my own business.

What advice would you give to someone applying for your course at Milton Keynes College today? 

I really do recommend my course, especially for those who want to go into the construction industry but aren’t sure which section of it. The College is a great opportunity to try a bit of everything. 

I’d say don’t stress it too much. I feel like for a lot of people who join the College, it’s the only thing on their minds. Do think about how much other stuff you can enjoy while you’re here, the people and the experiences. Do the work but also make time for doing what makes you happy. Have fun with it as well!

To learn more about the T Level in Construction (Design, Surveying and Planning) at Milton Keynes College, read more here and to see our full T Level offering read more here.

109 learners from Milton Keynes College received their T Level results today. Results were positive, with Construction, Early Years Education and Assisting Teaching (a new course to the College this year) performing particularly well. 

The College also offers T Levels in areas including Business Support, Cyber Security and Laboratory Science. T Levels are a two year qualification that are a technical alternative to A Levels, bringing together classroom learning and an extended industry placement where employers help design the course. After completing T Levels, students can go on to university, additional training such as an apprenticeship or directly into employment.  

BTEC students also received their results today. BTECs are specialist work-related qualifications designed for young people interested in a particular industry or sector and can lead to employment, further study or apprenticeships. 

Fabian Pancu, a student who achieved a Distinction in Construction T Level today, said: “The course has changed my perspective on construction in a really positive way. It surprised me how much other subjects link into it as well, such as science and maths. I’m really happy that I achieved a distinction and in September I’ll be going to Kingston University to study Architecture”. 

Fellow Construction T Level student Marcia-Belle Barnes achieved a merit today and added: “I really enjoyed learning all about the different elements and aspects of construction. I did my placement with WJ Construction and it was fantastic. I’ll be taking a gap year and then coming back to the College to study for a HNC in construction, or potentially going straight into a full time role in construction”. 

Simon Eko, Course Team Leader for Professional Construction at Milton Keynes College, commented: “We’ve had fantastic results today, all the second year Construction T Level students received merits and distinctions, they’re all very happy. 

“We’re very proud that all of our 42 T Level Construction students will be going onto university, apprenticeships or full time employment. Lots of the students’ employers from their placements want to carry on employing them, which shows just how well they’ve done during their placements and courses. It’s been another successful year for us, we’re very proud of our learners and everything they’ve achieved.” 

Sally Alexander, CEO and Group Principal of Milton Keynes College Group, says, “We are all very proud of our students receiving their T Level results today, and of the tutors who have supported them in their studies. T Level courses have been designed with leading businesses and employers to give learners the knowledge and skills they need, producing the next wave of highly skilled, work-ready graduates and the industries they will work in. We are confident that whatever option they choose next, our T Level students will have successful and promising futures ahead of them. Here to support students. 

“We’ve also had a positive first year of our new A Level provision and are looking forward to first full cohort of learners receiving their results this time next year.” 

To find out more about T Levels at Milton Keynes College, visit https://mkcollege.ac.uk/school-leavers/t-levels/ 

If you’re receiving your GCSE results this year and want to study a BTEC, T Level, A Levels or an apprenticeship at MK College, you can visit our advisory days between Thursday 21^st and Friday 29^th August. To find out more and book an appointment visit Advisory Days – MK College

Curious about what it’s like to do a placement while studying at Milton Keynes College? We spoke to Boma, a current student at the College studying a T Level in Digital Production, Design & Development. Read more to discover what the life of a T Level student looks like and what he learned along the way, with insights and tips for college life.

Hello! Who are you and what are you studying?

Hi there! I’m Boma and I’m a student at Milton Keynes College Bletchley campus, studying a T Level in Digital Production, Design & Development. I’m in the second year of my course.

What made you choose your course?

I’ve always wanted to be a web developer. I’m now applying to go into AI and software, and I saw this course as a good start. My dad used to be a big tech guy, so he wanted me to be able to do the tech stuff, since tech is all about the future now. He encouraged me to do it and gave me lessons, which gave me the courage to be able to choose the course I’m in now.

How are you finding your studies?

Very good and nurturing. The teachers always ask questions about how the students are doing with the course and give advice. They are also very friendly and caring; they take their time to make sure you understand the task before you carry on. It’s very intuitive on my side. I feel like I’ve made the right decision with the course.

What work placement did you do and how did you find it?

I did my work placement with the Bedford Modern School. I enjoyed it, I was an IT Support Technician Assistant at the school. I’m now done with my placement and looking forward to getting a job with the certificate that I get from this course.

Can you describe what a typical workday at your placement looks like?

My job was managing accounts and helping people with IT equipment on how to use them properly. Considering that it’s a school, there are a lot of IT problems, like network connections, laptops breaking down or various equipment shortages.

Did you encounter any obstacles? How did you overcome them?

Most of it was smooth sailing but if not for the staff who taught me what to do, it would be very difficult. My most difficult situation was trying to access the accounts and make changes to them because when people get logged out of their accounts, they need someone from the administration to open them up – when most of your staff members are busy, this becomes hard to do yourself.

What are some highlights from your time at the College?

I went to a table tennis tournament in Norwich once. I was able to make friends with a sports coach, talk about various sports and have other friendly conversations.

I’ve also met a couple other people from my country as well as made friends with people outside my country. It breaks a very strong cultural barrier around here, so being able to meet new people and build good relationships – that’s very nice here.

How do you find social life at the College?

I’ve found a couple new friends while studying here. Considering that I came in and I wasn’t a very talkative person, I’ve now found people I’m able to relate to and have some good conversations with.

Do you participate in any extracurricular activities at the college, and what hobbies do you enjoy outside of college?

I’m mostly active with just the course alone, but I’ve participated some events to improve my communication skills and increase my experience and confidence with the course. Outside of College, I like to play basketball and I go out for jogging and walks. I also ride my bike with some friends from the College.

What are your future career aspirations? What are your plans for achieving them?

I would like to become a web designer or developer, with a bit of focus on front-end or back-end of websites. If not, with the experience that I’ve gained from the work placement with the Bedford Modern School, I would like to go into IT support.

I’m planning on studying the Level 4 course for HNC degree in AI and Software, which I’m starting in September. I’d also like to take an apprenticeship after that or get a good job.

What advice would you give to someone applying for your course at MK College today?

There are two categories here. For someone who is used to web development and design, it would be good to start this course when you’re done with your secondary school or sixth form.

For someone who is new to digital society, it would be very advisable to take on multiple projects and always ask questions, because nobody can do it on their own. Coding is very broad, and you can get lost in any coding language that you choose – always seek help from your teachers or use online resources for guidance.

Try to be happy while learning because it’s very difficult to learn when you’re in a down or bad mood – you tend to focus on what’s wrong with what you’re doing. Be sure to always encourage yourself and be happy with what you’ve chosen to do. And if you find that you aren’t really doing well with the course, then be sure to let your teachers know so that they can give you the best advice on what to do next.

To learn more about T levels at Milton Keynes College, read more here.

A T Level course is a technical qualification introduced in England as part of the government’s new post-16 education reforms. It is a two-year program for students aged 16 to 19 and is equivalent to three A levels. T Level courses combine classroom learning with industry placements to provide students with a mix of technical knowledge and practical skills in a specific vocational area, such as engineering, health and social care, digital, or childcare. T Levels aim to provide students with the knowledge and skills required by employers, making them more job-ready or enabling them to progress to higher education or apprenticeships.

Key facts:

1. 2-year qualification bringing classroom and work placement together
2. Courses designed with employers and businesses
3. Broadly equivalent to 3 A Levels and focus on technical and vocational skills
4. There are now 18 T Level subjects available with more launching in September 2024.
5. T Levels are a mix of learning and on-the-job training
6. T levels help students get into skilled employment, university or higher apprenticeships.
7. Each T Level includes an industry placement that lasts at least 45 days.
8. T Level students spend 80% of the course in their learning environments and 20% doing an industry placement, where they put these skills into action.

To find out more about t levels and their benefits please visit our T Level page.

If you haven’t already heard, T Levels are the new kid on the block. This new choice after GCSE’s has a LOT to offer, and we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about them.

So, What are T-Levels?

T Levels are a new, 2-year qualification, designed to give YOU a head start towards the career that you want. Designed for 16-18 year olds, this qualification will focus on practical, rather than academic subjects like A Levels, with 80% classroom learning and 20% industry placement.

All courses have been co-created by employers from over 200 businesses – including Fujitsu and Skanska – to make sure that you’ll be gaining necessary and important industry skills, therefore preparing you for highly skilled jobs or undergraduate study.

What subjects can I study?

At Milton Keynes College, we are currently delivering the following T Level courses:

Can’t see the subject you’re interested in? Don’t worry – in the coming years, more T Levels will become available to study. View the list of T Levels that will be offered across the country here. Please note though that not all these subjects will be available to study at MK College.

What’s the difference between T Levels and A Levels?

T Levels, also known as Technical Levels, are for students who want to develop work-related knowledge and skills within a specific industry, rather than academic skills learnt from studying A Levels.

What’s more, your T Level will be worth UCAS points exactly like A Levels and is a nationally recognised qualification accepted by universities and other education providers. See below the table that compares the grades of a T Level to an A Level.

UCAS TARIFF POINTS	T LEVEL OVERALL GRADE	A LEVEL EQUIVALENT
168	Distinction*	AAA*
144	Distinction	AAA
120	Merit	BBB
96	Pass (C or above)	CCC
72	Pass (D or above)	DDD

How is a T Level different to an Apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships and T Levels are similar, as the qualifications are based upon the same standards which are designed by employers. However, an apprentice spends most of their time in the workplace, learning on-the-job, whereas a T level student will spend most of their time in the classroom. But both qualifications have been designed to give school and college leavers alternatives to the traditional paths to starting a career.

Why should I study a T Level?

There are many great reasons why studying a T Level could be a fantastic option for you after you’ve finished your GCSE’s:

1. They have been designed with leading businesses and employers to give you the knowledge and skills you need, relevant to the industry you’re interested in.
2. T Levels will provide you with the experience of what a real working environment is like with an industry placement lasting at least 45 days.
3. Once you have successfully completed your T Level qualification, you will receive a nationally recognised certificate. The certificate will also show details of what you have learned on the course.
4. Recognised by universities and other education providers, Your T Level will be worth UCAS points exactly the same way as A Levels.
5. T Levels involve more classroom study than apprenticeships (a whopping 80%!), which means you can experience an industry while you are continuing your studies.

Think a T Level could be the best next step for you? Want to find out more about this qualification or read more about the T Levels on offer with us at MK College.