Give career A boost
Not going to uni? Learn on the job
Today’s THE day for thousands of anxious students who will be getting their A-level results.
Many will get the grades they need to head off to university, but there will others who are disappointed.
If you don’t hit your grades, it’s vital to remember that whatever happens, you have lots of options ahead of you.
While the clearing system (see below) may be able to help find you a university place, you might want to consider another route towards your future career.
These include vocational training or the chance to learn and earn via an apprenticeship or other qualifications. There are even opportunities where you can get a paid job and study for a degree at the same time.
This time last year, Luca Lowe, from Hull, was one of those lining up to get his A-level results.
While he had applied for a university place, he also went for an apprenticeship in project management.
Luca, 19, says: “I had got an offer from Greenwich University to study Business Management – I applied because everyone else seemed to think it was the right thing to do. But in truth I didn’t feel it was really right for me.
“My business teacher understood this and pointed me in the right direction for alternatives.“I had been looking online to see what I could find and stumbled on an apprenticeship with Direct Line in Leeds. It appealed and I applied immediately.
“Apprenticeships, like the one I’m now on, are rare, especially up north. I told myself if I got it I wouldn’t go to university, as it was such a good opportunity.” During the apprenticeship application process Luca kept all his options open, getting things such as a student bank account ready for university. But his brilliant performances at various interviews meant he got the apprenticeship.
He says: “As my mates were off to university I started work. I really struggled with organisational skills when I first joined. My manager was aware of this and gave me lots of support. Now I would say I am an organisational master.
“Not only have I developed those skills, I’ve also improved my project management skills. I remember on my first day I went into a team meeting where I hadn’t a clue what anything meant.
“There was lot of business speak and abbreviations I didn’t understand.
“But now I run my own project and am confident enough to run meetings. I have helped roll out a pilot railcard scheme to employees. You can achieve a lot in just 10 months.”
The project manager course he is on is an Association of Project Management (APM) qualification, which is nationally recognised – and Luca is gaining valuable experience within the insurance world.
“I really don’t think I would have achieved all of this knowledge and expertise if I studied the same subject at university.
“I have developed in so many ways – more than I could have dreamed of. I’m much more confident when speaking to different people and feel I can handle anything the working world has to throw at me.
“One year ago I was a different person: for instance no one likes public
My skills have truly grown so much in just a year
speaking but I was terrified of it – and yet now I can do it without batting an eyelid.” Luca certainly doesn’t feel as if he has missed out on university, or the £50,000 or so debt it brings with it.
He says: “My best friend went off to Greenwich but I get to visit him every now and then, so I get the best of all worlds.”
START YOUR CAREER
As Luca discovered, it is well worth considering an apprenticeship. Log on to the national apprenticeship site (getingofar.gov.uk) – we found 20,237 opportunities there.
The great website Not Going to Uni (notgoingtouni.co.uk) has 5,723 different apprenticeships and has lots of information on apprenticeships and vocational learning, as well as interview advice and CV tips.
Check out the National Careers Service at nationalcareersservice.direct. gov.uk. Here you can explore different careers, look at education possibilities, or even start your search for work.
You could also consider the Open University (open.ac.uk) where you study for a degree online in your spare time.
To follow in Luca’s footsteps check out directlinegroupcareers.com/Experienced-and-Specialist/View-JobAreas/Insurance-Apprenticeships which has 125 apprenticeships.
CLEARING
People without a university or college place can find suitable vacancies on higher education courses via the clearing process.
If you are flexible about where you will study and you have reasonable exam results, there is still a good chance you could find a course to suit you.
The moment you have your grades visit ucas.com. It can help you to contact universities and colleges about places still available.