What are the options for 6th form leavers if jot going to university and can't get an apprenticeship?

[Whatabouththekids]

DC1 is an A* student and academically driven. They're at uni. DC2 is less keen on going to uni. That's fine.

I'm helping them look into careers stuff as their 6th form college is rather poor in the area. Is it just too early to be looking at apprenticeships? Or is this just not a viable option in some parts of the country? They're considering level 4 and level 6.

I don't know what they will do otherwise. What do other young people do at 18 who don't go to uni? I know the stats are not good for 18 year old getting level 6 apprenticeships - most tend to go to career changers or to upskill existing staff. Level 3 apprenticeships I've seen often aren't in 'career' type jobs. Also, they might be excluded from level 3 as they'll already have a level 3 qualification. DC2 is clever and hard working too.

Has your dc managed to get an entry level position at 18 and found opportunities once in a company/business? Did they manage to get an apprenticeship and what time of year did they get it?

[Rocknrollstar]

Work for Macdonalds and work your way up to manager? Weatherspoons offer education and training. Years ago I got an entry level job in the offices of Shell Oil and worked my way up. What is he interested in? PWC now offer accountancy apprenticeships.

[Dacado]

What interests does he have?

[SellFridges]

I know that the company I work for advertise their degree level apprenticeships around this time of year. They are almost always filled by school leavers.

[AmaryllisChorus]

Any of what @Rocknrollstar suggested is great advice if they want to start a career. But if they are not sure, I think a gap year is a seriously good idea. Get work in a cafe, pub, shop for 6-9 months to make time to save up for and plan some travel. If they don't like the idea of going alone they could join a group holiday targeted at young people, or sign up for some summer courses abroad - from surfing to Thai cooking. And if they haven't already, learn to drive. It could be a really good year without the pressure of deciding what they ought to do for the rest of their lives.

[titchy]

If they don't go to uni or get an apprenticeship they get jobs!

You don't say how old dc2 is so difficult to say whether you're being premature in thinking about this now, but I'd say that year 12 would be a good time to think about options. What is he doing atm?

[Cheeesus]

Is it the university idea your younger one doesn’t like or the idea of studying? Is it worth looking at more vocational or practical study options like HNDs or does that not appeal either?

[Trisolaris]

Level 3 Apprenticeships are often a good way in to the bottom rung of a professional career e.g HR, finance, IT, Data. Once they pass the apprenticeships many companies are more inclined to pay for further training or a level 6 apprenticeship as they have evidence of commitment.

As long as current level 3 quals are in a subject/s with substantive differences it shouldn’t matter e.g they can do A a level maths and still do an Accounts Assistant apprenticeship

[Versailles2025]

Out of all of my friends the two who achieved the least academically are the most financially well off.

Both went into low level finance jobs and worked their way up.

Sometimes I use to dream about my son being a thespian and a free spirit. However, he is academic and has gone into medicine.

He will find his path he may just need to try a few out first.

[HPEnvious]

My DC got a level 3 apprenticeship after sixth form, which then led on to a level 6. Yes there was some duplication of level 3 work - but not much, the fields were similar but not the same (science) and the apprenticeship was very specialised. It's also meant a little longer in education - 3 years for the level 3 and four for the level 6. But DC has been earning (although minimum wage!), and has no student debt.

[Blanketpolicy]

I was in IT now as a Business Analyst in Supply. Most of our team of analysts came up through the ranks starting in warehouses, shipment processing , logistics, manufacturing, purchasing , procurement, supply annd material planning etc and the majority are not degree educated but have strengths in processes and systems.

There are so many different roles in supply chains and in the right company the opportunity to move between departments to gain broad knowledge allowing you to progress in the future when opportunities such as significant projects come along.

[shearwater2]

Do they not have a part time job already?

DD1 worked PT throughout her A-Levels and was taken on FT as a supervisor (unexpected gap year) so she has been saving up for a year before going to university. And doing a bit of travel/holidays in summer. But if university hadn't happened at least she would have her work experience to fall back on. She will be able to transfer to the university branch of the place she works and do a few hours a week there.

DD2 is looking forward to getting a part time job when she's 16 to earn money. She's not academically inclined so I think the work experience is even more important for her.

Once you've had a job it's much easier to demonstrate experience for another one and look like a reliable person for apprenticeships and other opportunities.

[Whatabouththekids]

They are in Year 13. Studying IT. It's a she. Level 3 IT apprenticeships are not open to them.

I realise they get a job if no uni or apprenticeship. I should have been a bit more positive in my Op. I guess I'm looking for inspirational stories or viable plan Bs and Cs and Ds.....

[SIacker]

I manage level 3 apprentices in a career type job. Some of them have come straight from a levels, so this isn't a barrier to getting onto a level 3.

[Needmorelego]

Yes they (usually) go and get a job. May not be the greatest of jobs and they'll be at the bottom but many find they like having the money and it often matures them up into being an "adult".

[Menomeno]

DS and DD1 both started on a Level 2 Accountancy Apprenticeship. DD has just completed Level 7 and is now a Chartered Accountant (ACCA). DS stopped after level 4 and is working as a Finance Manager. DD2 dropped out of sixth form and went straight into a Level 3 Data Analysis Apprenticeship, with a plan to move onto a Level 5 once she completes it next year.

[Whatabouththekids]

"Do they not have a part time job already? "

Currently looking but not many to apply for. Perhaps summer will be better. They had a pt job all through year 12 but had to give it up as no flexibility with hours and not able to get herself there it impacted us. But they did it long w ough to get a good reference and demonstrated some soft skills.

[Whatabouththekids]

Thanks for sharing so far. I don't have many friends' kids that have gone the none uni route as yet. Those that went straight into work went into a trade, Continurd their retail job or flitted around but did not manage to progress.

Sorry for all the typos, I'm ia passenger in a car.

[PerpetualOptimist]

Researching careers inside and outside IT, doing side projects on the likes of Github and/or getting paid work experience in, say, retail could all be potentially helpful building blocks for more informed decisions and evidence of self-reflection and employability when the time comes to apply for jobs, whether they are within apprenticeship schemes or not.

L4 and L6 IT focused apprenticeships tend to be advertised Sep-Jan, though - particularly the L4 ones - can appear throughout the year. There is no single place to view vacancies, though the Government apprenticeship website, UCAS website and Notgoingtouni are all good starting points.

[myphoneisbroken]

I know a young person who started working at the local estate agents and loved it.

There are also lots of opportunities to work as LSAs (i.e. in school) where I live - a good way to explore whether working with young people might be of interest.

[Octavia64]

are they looking to go into IT?

If so, do they have any idea which aspect?

IT help desk roles are generally entry level.
Do they program already? If so, then which languages?

[UncomfortableSilence]

DD1 finished Y13 last summer. She didn't want to go to Uni so she applied for entry level jobs in the field she thought she wanted to work in.

She started as a Junior Accounts Assistant. After she finished her probation the company have now offered to pay for her to start her AAT. As it's not a traditional apprenticeship she will have to study in her own time but she's fine with that. She's earning a really good salary, learning loads and gaining invaluable experience. Out of her friend group, two went to Uni, two got apprenticeships at large corporates, the time to be applying for these is from the December of Y13 onwards and the other two also got entry level jobs.

There are lots of options out there.

[Jennyjojo5]

My son is 18; he didn’t go to university and doesn’t know what he wants to do as a career. He’s a very young 18 too. He’s decided to do a year of working (he has 2 part time jobs) whilst he figures out what he wants to do in life/focus on. Plan is to look for an apprenticeship later in the year

[Whatabouththekids]

You're all giving me some optimism. Thats what I was searching for. I think I've panicked a bit. I know she'll find her way.

Uncomfortable Silence - I so wish she was finance orientated as there are so many more of those opportunties out there but she's not.

I expected more from the college. I now know they're in a transition period having bexome part of a larger academy trust. Some of what made it good previously has been lost. We didn't know level 6 apprenticeships were advertised so early. So far she's applied to 1 and only got to the second stage. She's 2 more in the pipeline - a level 4 that looks perfect for her. A level 6 which is not local. A few of the IT post-16 level jobs are looking for IT hobbyists - the job description actually says that - which she is not.

[NotDonna]

Not IT - DD1 accountancy level 7 apprentice @ 18. Started looking ‘out of interest’ during yr12. Started applying October/Dec of Yr13 & applied to around 8-10. She also had uni offers to fall back on if wasn’t successful in getting an apprenticeship.
Again not IT - DD2 applied to around 5 level 6 apprenticeships in retail/business/sales. Started looking/applying in October (ish) of yr13 but some not advertised until Easter - so getting close to exam time. Got nowhere and went to Uni.

I do think it’s a bit of a numbers game and best to apply to anything and everything that appeals. It’s practice if nothing else. Tell her not to get too disheartened and keep trying. DD1 was turned down by some small / mid tier firms yet was accepted by a big4 🤷‍♀️ Good luck to her!

[NotDonna]

What do they mean by an ‘IT hobbyist’?