During his T Level placement, Ajex joined allpay’s data team and quickly got stuck into hands-on projects that brought his classroom learning to life.
“Working at allpay through my T Level placement has been such a valuable experience,” says Ajex. “Being part of the data team has helped me gain real skills in Power BI, Databricks, and SQL. I’ve also learned a lot about data engineering — building pipelines, working with APIs, and understanding how data warehouses operate.”
But it wasn’t just technical skills that grew.
“Beyond that, I’ve developed problem solving, critical thinking, and communication skills that I know will help me in the long run. My goal is to become a data scientist, and this placement has really made me feel like I’m on the right path.”
From the employer’s perspective, T Level work placements are just as rewarding.
The team at allpay has seen Ajex grow in confidence and professionalism — developing an understanding of how businesses operate day-to-day, learning business etiquette, and becoming familiar with the tools and culture of a leading tech firm.
"He’s gained insight into business etiquette, professional communication, and how to navigate an office environment— essential skills that aren’t always taught in the classroom.” says Mandy Knott, Learning and Development Manager at allpay. “It’s been great to see his confidence grow as he’s become more familiar with both the tools and the culture of a working IT department.”
And for allpay, the benefits go beyond mentoring one student — it’s also helped the business adapt and evolve.
“Interestingly, having a young person on placement has also helped our line managers and mentors gain insight into the new generation entering the workforce. It’s prompted conversations about how young people learn, communicate, and engage with technology—insights that are helping us adapt our leadership and development approaches to better support future talent.”
Plus, Ajex’s insights and analysis have had a positive impact on allpay’s business processes.
“Ajex has made a meaningful impact … helping us review how our Power BI reports were scheduled to refresh. …. due to capacity in the data team this would not have been prioritised.
His contribution has not only helped us work more efficiently but also highlighted the benefit of having talent involved in real business processes.”
For small businesses across the UK, T Levels offer an excellent way to access motivated students with up-to-date technical knowledge, while contributing to their local skills pipeline.
Ajex has clear advice for anyone thinking about taking part in a T Level work placement:
“I’d say 100% go for it! You learn so much from real work experience that you can’t get just from college. It helps you see what the job is like, build your skills, and figure out what you enjoy doing.
The allpay team agrees. Their top tips for success:
T Levels are proving to be a genuine win-win — students gain meaningful experience and employability skills, while businesses benefit from new perspectives and access to future-ready talent.
At MyPocketSkill, we see this every day. By connecting young people with small business opportunities, freelance work, and paid placements, we’re helping both sides build confidence, capability, and lasting success.
T Levels aren’t just qualifications — they’re partnerships that prepare young people for the future and empower businesses to thrive.
Contact Clova and the team at [email protected] or read more at our dedicated page for employers.
Contact Clova and the team at [email protected] or read more at our dedicated page for colleges.