NOT the end of the world – that is how an award-winning young engineer from Rugby has reassured GCSE students who did not got the grades they were hoping for on results day today (Thursday August 22).
Hannah Linden, an Advanced Apprentice with JLR in Castle Bromwich, thought her ‘life was over’ when her results day did not go to plan – but found an alternative path to a rewarding career.
Now the 21-year-old Brownsover resident wants to share her story with others who find themselves in the same position.
The former Ashlawn School student told The Observer: “My initial idea was to stay on at school to do my A-Levels, and then go on to uni. It was the only way I thought I could succeed and get a good job.
“However, come results day I did not meet the grade criteria for the sixth form at my school, and was left with no idea where to go next.”
With four GCSEs to her name – not including English – and no way into the sixth form, Hannah says she wanted to ‘give up’.
But after a chat with a careers adviser at Rugby College, she took on a B.Tech course in Art and Design and decided to resit her English GCSE.
“After doing a year at college, it was time to start deliberating on what I wanted to do afterwards – which for most people was university,” she continued.
“However, my dad brought up apprenticeships after doing one himself, and thought it would be worth looking into.”
After finding out she could get paid to learn on the job and get a qualification, Hannah applied for a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship at JLR.
Since then she has thrived, and last year she won the Make UK Engineering Apprentice Rising Star for showing outstanding behaviour and communication skills – and for using her journey as an inspiration for others.
“I was told my grades weren’t good enough to get a good career, and if I din’t go to university I would be a failure.
“Now, I work at one of the most well-known companies and have gained Level 2 and Level 3 engineering qualifications, won engineering awards, been an ambassador for my company and for apprentice panels, and been able to gain experience at my company which is beneficial for future jobs.”
Now in the final year of her four-year apprenticeship at JLR and thriving in her role as the company’s Apprentice Ambassador, Hannah says she is glad she didn’t ‘just do what everyone else did’.
She added: “Not getting the grades you want isn’t the end of the world, and there are now so many networks and websites you can join to help guide you on the different career paths you can take after school.”
After her apprenticeship ends, Hannah plans to become an engineer in the field of metrology, the science of measurement – and wants to continue to inspire future apprentices.
For those young people who did not receive the results they had hoped for, advice, guidance and support is available through their schools and colleges.
In addition, young people can contact Prospects, Warwickshire County Council’s commissioned careers support service for free independent careers advice and support directly by calling 02476 321 950 or visiting the website www.prospectsnow.me
Information about searching and applying for an apprenticeship can be found here: https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch
Alternatively, The National Careers Service can be contacted to access free information and advice about education, training and work on 0800 100 900 or via the website: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/
For more information about education and learning in Warwickshire visit: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/education-learning
