What other options are there besides university?

Life beyond sixth form can be a little daunting. As the final deadline for submitting Ucas applications looms, we take a look at what you can do if you don’t fancy spending three years and thousands of pounds on an academic degree.

1. Entrepreneur

Got an idea for a new venture? Charities like The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme or Business Angels can get you started with start-up grants, funding and effective business support.

That’s the route taken by Rebecca Taylor, who left school with no qualifications. With a baby on the way and having completed a course in beauty therapy at Doncaster College, she wanted to put her skills to good use. After doing some market research Rebecca found that there was a gap in the market for hair and lash extensions which no other business in the area was providing.

Rebecca was then put in touch with The Prince’s Trust and after impressing a panel of volunteers was awarded a £3,000 loan, a £500 grant and a business mentor to advise her on the launch of her business Locks and Lashes. As her business expands, she is preparing to launch her own branded products which will be sold from her new premises. The budding businesswoman is also in talks with a nationwide retailer to install concession lash and nail bars in 10 stores.

For more information, you can start by downloading materials to help you to start planning your business here. More success stories from the Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme can be found here.

2. Police

The police offer diverse job opportunities including forensic photographers, counter clerks and administrative staff as well as the more traditional roles. There is also clear progression upwards - so if you’ve ever fancied yourself as a Magnum PI or an Inspector Morse-type, look at what opportunities are available. 

When joining the police, basic GCSEs and lack of a criminal record are a must. In recent years, the police recruitment process has become tougher so you might also consider becoming a Police Community Support Officer for a year or volunteer as a Special Constable to give you an edge over other applicants.

Interested in applying? Visit Policecouldyou.co.uk.

3. Apprenticeships

Major companies like Transport for London, National Grid, British Airways, BT, Tesco and Virgin Media, offer excellent paid apprenticeships from engineering, management to IT. Apprenticeships usually combine practical work with study during the week and are perfect for those who like to get hands-on and want to start earning money instantly.

At British Airways, for example, at the end of the first year of the apprenticeship students will be required to apply for a placement and go through an interview process. Successful candidates are then offered a paid two-year, fixed-term contract based at Heathrow Airport.

For more information on apprenticeships visit Direct.gov.

[Related feature: Inspirational people who didn't get the grades]

4. Flight attendant

Being part of cabin crew is a dream job for many people. The chance to earn good salary, meeting new people, experience different cultures and travel around the world for free attracts many applicants.

Many people have the misconception that a cabin crew’s job is mainly customer service only and do not realise that their number one priority is the safety of the aircraft, crew members and the plane itself. Apart from being trained on services, they also have training on first aid as well as safety and emergency procedures.

Becoming a flight attendant isn’t an easy task either. Once you’ve been interviewed for a specific airline, you must attend flight attendant school lasting from a few weeks to several months. Now is a good time to apply as major UK airlines are recruiting for non-experienced cabin crew.

5. Airline pilot

Airlines like British Airways, Monarch and easyJet offer world-class sponsored pilot training programmes to those over 18.

There is also the CTC Wings Cadet programme, so if you have little or even no flying experience, the programme will take you from the basics through single-engine and multi-engine flying and - depending on the opportunities available at the time - on to jet training and airline type rating with one of a well-known partner airlines.

Aspiring pilots must have at least seven GCSEs at grade C or above (with Bs in English, Maths and a Science subject) plus three A-Levels, at grade BBC or above (General Studies excluded) to join the programme. Click here for more information on pilot training programmes.

6. Gap year work abroad

Africa, Australia, South America, Europe - the world is your oyster! If you’re still unsure what to do next, the prospect of travelling while earning money at the same time might appeal to you.

Paid gap year programmes offer the chance to mix some real work experience, enhance skills and broaden horizons with the possibility of learning a new language. Ski resort or camp workers, office jobs, aupair and English teaching jobs are popular with those looking their big break abroad.

There are also some schemes that also offer unpaid opportunities like conservation and community projects which all look impressive on a CV. Remember that working or volunteering in a foreign country is much harder than visiting on holiday but it can be rewarding. You'll have to go through the necessary legal procedures to apply for permission to work overseas.

For more information on gap years abroad, visit Direct.gov.

7. NHS

From occupational therapy assistants, dental nurses, dental technicians healthcare support workers to pharmacy technicians, the NHS offers roles across the medical profession that you don’t necessarily need a university degree for.

Again, apprentices combine learning while working toward a work-based qualification such as QCF/NVQ Level 2. Visit NHS careers for more information on apprenticeships and traineeships at the NHS.

8. Learning a trade

Learning a trade like plumbing or becoming an electrician will set you in good stead for life. With the high demand for skilled labourers in recent years, such jobs and the salaries that go with them have made them even more attractive.

According to the Government’s Construction Skills Network, an average of 100 new plumbers per month are required to keep up with national demand. So – if you’re looking for a lucrative way to get your hands dirty, check out the plumbing apprenticeships available and start yourself off on the road to a new career.