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?

Son went into Local Government who later funded his degree and Masters and daughter worked in a bank and later moved to Local Government. They simply applied for the roles advertised.

I think they mean someone who spends time in their bedroom building their own computers or teaching themselves all the coding languages.

Thanks - we're keeping an eye on local government. It would be a good option for her. I'm also told by a friend who works in IT in the NHS that there will be loads of digital apprenticeships coming up in the future but I've not seen anything yet. This would also be a good option for her. Sadly I don't think I can get DD work experience with her as she works with the patient database and there will be confidentiality issues.

We're now looking at it as a two year process. Leave college, get some more work experience, paid part time job, do some extra courses, be prepared for September job applications. She could apply further afield too as might be more keen to move away from home if need be once she is 19. She has a deferred uni place for 2025 if she changes her mind or can't find anything.

I have exactly the same issue for ds2. I consider Apprenticeships to be the 'creme de la crème' and like gold dust.

I think it's actually harder to get apprenticeships than places at a university.
For IT, I think she'll need to show a genuine interest in the subject (doesn't have to be building their own kit and learning coding - but they need to have done something outside of their studies), plus some degree of work experience (I would think the Year 12 would be good enough here if she can evidence the soft skills gained).

Look at Level 3 apprenticeships- they can lead on to higher level ones.
Consider entry level IT jobs, or indeed other entry level jobs, particularly in big companies that might offer apprenticeships to employees that prove themselves.

It's worth keeping her eyes open between September-December - DH and I both know of companies who had apprentices drop out before starting (took up uni place instead) leaving the company wanting to fill a vacancy for someone who could start quickly.

Take a look at the essential and desirable qualities that are needed for the sorts of jobs or apprenticeships she might want and work out if she has any obvious gaps in her background or if there's anything she could enhance.

I highly recommend getting volunteer experience in anything that looks like a gap or that might fit with future work. For example, our local library uses volunteers, especially young people, to help people uncertain about new technology to use the library computers or to sort out their own digital devices. One wonderful young volunteer who was a sixth-former was very patient with me when I needed advice about what kind of kit I might want to buy for playing audio books. He was ticking many boxes for customer service jobs as well as anything that involved communicating IT-related stuff clearly. Several years ago, one of my own children deliberately took over running all the publicity, social media and website for a year for a group he was involved with, just to fill that gap on his CV. There's lots of options if you look for them and this sort of thing might help her stand out in her applications and will certainly give her different things to talk about at interview.

If she's volunteered reliably for a few months, the organisation may well be willing to give her a work reference as well which can be really helpful if you are starting out without a paid employment record.

Some great ideas here thank you. I think she'll have more time for the volunteering ones when she finishes college. She's a very people-oriented person.

She did work experience for an IT company in Year 11. She had virtual work experience lined up for a females in IT event in year 12, but couldn't do it in the end because it clashed with a week ahe had to be in college.

The BTEC at her college has been uninspiring and it might have been better if she'd gone in to a level 3 apprenticeship at 16. She's got nothing out of college I thought she would get. No industry contacts, support with apprenticeships, inspirational speakers, trips or visits, work experience. Yes, she can do all this herself but you kind of expect some of that from a vocational course.

At this stage I think a level 3 or 4 or any entry job would be better for her. She then gets industry experience but could still choose to do her degree at uni full-time after a few years.