Damian writes a regular column in the Petersfield Post and this latest one discusses the options facing students receiving their exam results this summer:
"Thousands of young people across the UK received their A Level results last week, and thousands more will be eagerly anticipating the GCSE results this week.
And this will be a significant moment for all of them – the culmination of many years of hard work, with the anticipation of starting a new phase in their lives. For those fortunate enough to secure the results required to move on to their chosen university or sixth form, there will now be all of the practical considerations to put in place; particularly if moving to another part of the UK. Exciting, but possibly also a bit daunting.
For others whose results are not quite as hoped for, there will be more decisions to make; whether to apply for an alternative course or college, or to think about other options that are open to them.
And there are many alternatives available. In fact, there has probably never been as wide a choice on offer as there is today. From vocational and technical qualifications such as BTECs and City & Guilds, right through to Degree Apprenticeships, that offer paid employment alongside the completion of a degree.
Apprenticeships have undergone something of a revolution in recent years, and remain a key focus for the Government as it works towards its goal of creating three million new places by 2020, and encourages employers to invest in Britain’s skill base.
There are opportunities available in a very wide range of fields, including creative and design, digital, legal, accounting, transport, agriculture, health & care, customer service, construction as well as engineering.
Apprenticeships are available in 1,500 job roles, covering more than 170 industries, and combine practical training in a job with study to achieve a qualification. Apprentices work alongside experienced staff in a real working environment, and are paid.
Open to anyone aged over 16 and not in full time education, apprenticeships can take between 1 and 5 years to complete, depending on the level, with the entry Intermediate level 2 equivalent to a GSCE and levels 6 and 7 equal to a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree.
This ‘ladder of opportunity’ is key to the success of the scheme, as individuals can progress through different levels as and when it’s appropriate to them and the employer.
An exciting development here in East Hampshire is the opening of the Future Skills Centre in Bordon. The centre opens next month offering general construction, brickwork and carpentry courses alongside apprenticeships and part time construction related programmes.
How appropriate that the centre will be one of the dividends of the major re-development of Whitehill & Bordon, bringing first class constructions skills to the local area and beyond.
So, if you know anyone who is considering which step to take next, whether following GCSE or A Level results, or at another point in their lives, then please encourage them to take a look at apprenticeships as a great way to earn and learn. More information is available at https://www.gov.uk/education/apprenticeships-traineeships-and-internships.
For more information on the Future Skills Centre, go to: http://www.bcot.ac.uk/bordon-fsc/future-skills-centre/
Good luck to everyone getting their results this week, and remember that there are many different paths to success."
Written by Damian Hinds and published in the Petersfield Post on 23rd August 2017