With A-Level and GCSE results days upon us, thousands of young people across Hertfordshire will be receiving grades and considering what comes next. While results can feel hugely important, they are just one step on a journey that can lead to a wide range of opportunities.
Today's economy offers more pathways into rewarding careers than ever before. Whether your results were exactly what you hoped for or not, there are opportunities available to build skills, gain experience, earn while you learn, and progress into high-quality jobs.
Hertfordshire Futures is encouraging young people and their families to look beyond traditional routes and explore the growing range of options available across the county.
Apprenticeships: earn while you learn
Apprenticeships continue to be one of the fastest-growing pathways into employment, allowing learners to gain recognised qualifications while earning a salary.
Available across sectors including digital, engineering, healthcare, construction, business services and creative industries, apprenticeships provide direct access to the workplace and real-world experience that employers value.
Many Hertfordshire employers, from small local businesses and charities to large national and international organisations, offer a wide range of career opportunities across the county. Through Hertfordshire's Opportunities Portal (HOP) All About Apprenticeships, students can learn more about local employers, explore different industries and gain insight into a variety of career pathways.
For those interested in earning while they learn, new apprenticeship vacancies are added regularly across a wide range of sectors. The HOP Apprenticeships page allows young people to search live opportunities in Hertfordshire, while the Apprenticeship Toolkit provides practical advice on finding vacancies, completing applications and preparing for interviews.
Learn more about apprenticeships
T Levels: a technical route into industry
T Levels are a high-quality technical qualification designed with employers and include substantial industry placements.
Equivalent to three A Levels, they offer a practical alternative for students who prefer applied learning and want to develop skills that directly relate to industry needs.
Available in areas such as digital, health, science, education, business and engineering, T Levels help learners progress into employment, apprenticeships or higher education.
In Hertfordshire, T Levels are available at a number of schools and colleges, including:
- West Herts College (Watford, Hemel Hempstead and Kings Langley)
- Hertford Regional College (Broxbourne and Ware), offering T Levels in Construction, Engineering, Science, Digital and Education & Childcare.
- North Hertfordshire College (Stevenage and Hitchin), offering T Levels in Business, Digital, Creative Media, Early Years Education and Healthcare.
- Oaklands College (St Albans and Welwyn Garden City), offering T Levels in areas including Digital, Construction, Engineering, Business, Animal Care, Health and Education.
Skills Bootcamps
Post 18- options also include Skills Bootcamps which provide flexible, short-term training, designed to help learners gain in-demand skills linked directly to employment opportunities and priority growth sectors. One of the biggest benefits is that, on completion, learners are supported into a guaranteed job interview and for those already in employment, they offer a chance to develop a new skill, take greater responsibility and progress into more advanced roles.
There are a wide range of Skills Bootcamps currently available across Hertfordshire. Live opportunities include (but are not limited to):
- Digital Marketing, which can lead to careers in marketing, content creation, social media and communications.
- Early Years, providing pathways into childcare, nursery settings, early education and support roles, while helping learners develop the knowledge and skills required to work with young children and families.
- Construction and CAD (Computer-Aided Design) programmes, supporting careers in construction, architectural design, engineering, surveying, project management and technical drafting.
- Film, TV and Creative Industries programmes, helping learners develop practical and technical skills for careers in film and television production, content creation, media, design, digital storytelling and the wider creative sector.
For learners considering a different path after school or college, specialist training programmes can provide an alternative route into work without committing to a traditional university degree.
Find out more about Skills Bootcamps
Retraining for a changing economy
Career journeys are rarely linear. Many people now retrain several times throughout their working lives to adapt to new technologies, industries and opportunities. Skills Bootcamps and professional training programmes help people gain new qualifications and transition into sectors experiencing skills shortages.
Developing adaptable skills and a willingness to learn can be just as important as exam results.
Starting your own business
For some young people, results day may be the beginning of an entrepreneurial journey.
Through programmes such as Get Enterprising, aspiring business owners can access support, advice and resources to turn ideas into viable businesses.
From digital startups and creative ventures to local services and social enterprises, entrepreneurship offers another pathway to success and economic independence. Success stories include Rebecca Coles, who turned her ambition of becoming a barber into a thriving business with support from the Get Enterprising programme.
Find out more about Get Enterprising
Explore careers with Career Coach
Choosing what to do next can feel overwhelming, particularly when there are so many different routes available. Career Coach is a free online careers tool that helps young people explore occupations, understand local labour market trends and discover the qualifications, skills and experience needed for different careers.
Users can browse career pathways, identify jobs that match their interests and strengths, view salary information, and see which sectors are growing in Hertfordshire. Whether considering university, an apprenticeship, a T Level, further education or employment, Career Coach can help students make informed decisions about their future and plan their next steps with confidence.
Find out more about Career Coach
Supporting young people to make informed career choices
Alongside post-16 and post-18 pathways, careers education plays a vital role in helping young people understand their options, develop employability skills and make informed decisions about their future.
Through the Hertfordshire Careers Hub, schools and colleges work closely with employers, training providers and education partners to help students raise their aspirations, build workplace skills and gain meaningful encounters with the world of work. This support helps ensure young people are equipped to navigate the changing labour market and take their next step with confidence.
Together with Skills Bootcamps, apprenticeships, T Levels, further education and business support programmes, these initiatives contribute to Hertfordshire's ambition to develop a skilled workforce and create opportunities for residents and businesses to thrive.