Enterprise

We’ve developed this section to specifically help those looking for alternative options to the traditional university path.

If your friends are all eagerly talking about going to university, but you’re uncertain whether this is the right step for you, a career in business might sound more appealing.

With university tuition fees rocketing up to £9,000 a year in 2012, more people will be considering other alternatives to an expensive university education.

Some people find that business has appealed to them since an early age; some feel they have a really good idea that will make them money; others enjoy the prospect of running things their own way and the freedom self-employment can bring.

Sometimes it's more than one of these reasons that propels an individual into setting up their own business.

Whatever the reasons, making your own job is an option open to everyone.

Where do I start?

There are several ways you can launch your life as an entrepreneur. If you’re taking GCSEs at your school or college, one of the best ways to get into business is to take a course at a college of further education.

Many FE colleges offer at least a handful of full-time and part-time business-related courses that you can enrol on – take a look at the website of your local FE college to see what’s on offer, or contact them directly for a copy of their prospectus.

If you’re still not sure whether it’s the right choice for you, many colleges will have an open day or evening that you can attend to find out more about their courses from the tutors and student life at the college.

Some of the business courses offered by FE colleges include:

• Foundation Diploma in Business, Administration & Finance – Level 1

• Higher Diploma in Business, Administration & Finance – Level 2

• Advanced Diploma in Business, Administration & Finance – Level 3

• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma/Diploma/Subsidiary Diploma in Business

• NVQ in Business & Administration

• BETEC Diploma in Enterprise & Entrepreneurship – Peter Jones Enterprise Academy

Apprenticeships

Another way to get started in business is through an apprenticeship. These are also provided at further education colleges, and a good way of gaining business skills and experience through a more vocational route than a Diploma.

You will earn a small wage per week, depending on the trade you are learning. Take a look at our Apprenticeships article as an introduction to this type of training.

Further education colleges usually offer a wide range of apprenticeships. Here are just some of the occupations you can learn through an apprenticeship:

• Marketing

• Administration

• Chef

• Painter & Decorator

• Engineer

• Graphic Design

• Hairdressing

• Accountancy

• Events Management

• Plasterer

• Carpentry

• Motor mechanic

• Beauty therapy

These are just some of the trades you can learn by becoming an apprentice - if none of the above appeal to you, there are many other crafts out there you can learn.

Start by checking out your nearest colleges and/or companies that work in the trade you are most interested in learning.