How to bag a degree for free
AS student debt rises to an average £50,000 after university, more and more savvy students are finding clever ways to bag a degree that is debt-free.
There’s also no guarantee of a job at the end of it all and the risk of a lifetime of debt if you never earn enough to repay the loan. So, it makes sense to find alternatives. That’s exactly what Jack McCarthy did. “I feel like I have a three-year head start on my friends who went to university,” says Jack, who started as a level 5 supply chain apprentice at global pharmaceutical firm GSK in 2014, straight after finishing his A-levels.
The 21-year-old from Ware in Hertfordshire has since progressed rapidly, achieving a foundation degree, completing his apprenticeship course nine months early and grabbing a full-time role as warehouse team leader.
“I’ve not only avoided the debt, I’ve had a competitive salary all along which meant I could upgrade my car and save for a flat,” he says. “I visit friends at university at the weekends so I don’t feel I have missed out at all.”
Jack loves the jobs and has had a lot of opportunities at work which have transformed him from a shy schoolboy to a confident manager.
“I’ve had the chance to present to senior leaders, manage a team and work with people at all levels of the organisation – all of which has boosted my confidence.
“The warehouse is fantastic. We handle supplies and materials, receiving and shipping worldwide. After excellent training I now manage a workforce of operators. It’s all about logistics and making things happen, which fascinates me.”
Like so many young people, Jack was not sure whether he should go to The world of retail always has a huge range of openings at all levels. At retailchoice.com there are thousands of opportunities from trainees and apprentices to customer and sales advisers on the shop floor, as well as behind the scenes roles for warehouse operatives and customer service representatives in top employers’ call centres. Plus specialist head office roles in areas such as merchandising, allocating, buying and product development. university or apply for an apprenticeship.
“I got offers from five universities for business management courses, but when I spotted this option at GSK, who I knew from talks at school as they were a big local employer, I was curious.
“As I went through the application process and learned more about the opportunity, I just knew I really wanted the job. I realised that I preferred a hands-on learning environment.”
Jack, who won the East of England Higher and Degree Apprentice of the Year at the National Apprenticeship Awards last month, has raced through the different levels of the learning process.
“The best piece of advice I was given was to say yes to everything. It’s a mantra that I’ve used all along that has pushed and challenged me to go beyond my comfort zone.
“The plan now is to do a master’s degree and one day capitalise on GSK’s global connections and work abroad. The world is quite literally my oyster.”
I’ve had a salary and I am saving up for a flat
To follow in Jack’s footsteps check out gsk.com/apprenticeships. It currently has more than 10 different apprenticeship opportunities in the UK which are a combination of Advanced, Higher and Degree Apprenticeships. Disciplines Skilled people are being sought to help upgrade our railways with major projects such as Crossrail and East West Rail, with roles available in engineering, operations and maintenance as well as professional services. Applications are especially welcomed from ex-Forces personnel and the three-year-long Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme is also open for applications until February 27. is looking for branch The sofa and carpet specialist sales managers and managers, administrators, at of stores, plus workers professionals at a range locations including Basingstoke, distribution centres in delivery drivers at Bristol and Coventry, customer Elland in Yorkshire, and centres in Doncaster and HQ. based at its Sunderland customer service advisors Posh store Harrods selection in London of vacancies on offer, Trains is looking for people acr UK, and Bath Spa University n staff in the Somerset area. There are vacancies at restaurants throughout the country for staff including managers, chefs, kitchen assistants, food production operatives, and bar and waiting staff who are promised a personalised induction and tailored goals through the Star development programme. There are also openings on Harvester’s chef & bar and waiting apprenticeships.