A-level results are in – what could be your next step?

Students across the East Midlands are receiving their A-level results and whether you are celebrating, feeling unsure, or helping someone decide what comes next, support is available.

Results day is an important milestone, but it does not define your future. You might be heading to university, starting an apprenticeship, considering a technical route, looking for work with training, or taking time to explore your options. There is more than one route into a successful career.

The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) is encouraging students, parents and carers to take a look at the wide range of education, training and employment opportunities available across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

If you are still deciding on your next step, you can explore different routes, including apprenticeships, higher education, local colleges, careers advice, employment with training, and support through local skills and employment programmes.

Support if you did not get the results you wanted

If results day has not gone as planned, there are still options available, and there are people who can help you understand what to do next.

In the first instance, students should speak to their school, teachers or college for advice about their results and next steps. Parents and carers can also support young people by helping them ask questions, look at all the options and get trusted advice before making a decision.

Support is also available through the National Careers Service, local colleges, apprenticeship providers, careers advisers and local authorities. They can help with options including apprenticeships, college courses, resits, appeals, employment with training, gap years and career planning.

Support available in the East Midlands

Across the East Midlands, there are programmes and services that can help you build skills, gain confidence and move towards good jobs. These include:

• Apply for an apprenticeship and earn while you learn;
• Look at university or higher education courses;
• Explore courses at local colleges;
• Consider Skills Bootcamps or adult skills courses if you are aged 19 or over;
• Connect to Work – if you are aged 18 or over;
• Look for employment opportunities that include training;
• Speak to a careers adviser about the best route for you;
• Take a look at Empowering Futures Derbyshire Youth Guarantee Trailblazer (at Derby College, Chesterfield College, and Burton and South Derbyshire College). 

The East Midlands is home to growing industries and employers looking for skilled people, with opportunities in areas such as advanced manufacturing, construction, engineering, digital, clean energy and life sciences. For more information on skills and employment across the region visit: Skills and Adult Education – East Midlands Combined County Authority

Helping people build their future

EMCCA has been making significant investments in skills and employment, working with partners to help more people gain the skills employers need, move into good jobs and access opportunities close to home. This includes:

• £53m for the Adult Skills Fund, which supports adults to gain new qualifications and progress in work; 
• Skills Bootcamps, helping people develop in-demand skills and move into growing sectors; 
• The Get East Midlands Working Plan, which sets out the region’s ambition to connect more people with good jobs and ensure employers can access the skilled workforce they need, and aims to get 60,000 more people into work, reaching an 80 per cent employment rate over the next 10 years; 
• Support for young people, including careers guidance and initiatives that help those who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) move into positive destinations.