What next? Apprentice shows alternative paths to success following exam results

As thousands of students anxiously await their A-level, T-level and BTEC results (Thursday 14 August), young people have shared their stories about how they found alternative routes to develop their careers, hoping to inspire other young people to explore their options.

And Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands today sent them a good luck message and reassured them that he is continuing to put in place thousands of training, apprenticeship and work experience places to help put them on the road to a successful career.

Sam Hutchings is one young apprentice who didn’t excel at his A Levels but didn’t let that get in the way of him shaping a fulfilling career.

Despite achieving good GCSEs, A Levels didn’t work out for Sam. He struggled with traditional ‘classroom’ style learning and left school early, unsure of his future.

Sam spent some time trying a few different jobs – door-to-door sales and security and then had to step away from work altogether to care for his terminally ill mother.

But in 2024, Sam joined the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) funded Path 2 Apprenticeships (P2A) programme in Wolverhampton with Workpays.

The free, flexible course helped him build confidence, develop practical skills, and discover a new career path. Just months later, he secured a Level 4 apprenticeship in Business Development and now works on the very programme that helped him turn his life around.

Sam, now aged 24, was recognised for his learning journey with a Workplace Learning Achievement at the WMCA Adult Learning Awards 2025.

 “After losing my mum, I wasn’t sure which way to turn,” he said. “An apprenticeship provided me with a different way of learning – more practical and that works for me as well as a route into work.

“Since starting work again, my life has changed so much. Previously I have had to live week to week but now I feel that I have stability and I’m able to think about my future. I can have ideas about where I want my career to take me and it’s all thanks to the training and support I received through Path 2 Apprenticeships.”

Sam’s story is a powerful reminder that success doesn’t always follow a straight line. With the right support, there are many ways to build a career, gain qualifications, and find purpose.

Sam Hutchings (centre) received the accolade for Workplace Learning at the WMCA Adult Learning Awards 2025 held earlier this year, from BBC News presenter, Nicola Beckford (left) and inspirational apprentice Santina Bunting (right) who now works for Arup.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “This can be a tough time of year for young people awaiting results, but they can be assured that there are lots of options available no matter how they do in their exams.

“My Growth Plan for the region sets out our commitment to making available the training and opportunities that young people need to secure good jobs, especially in growth sectors such as digital, advanced manufacturing and green tech.

“Our plan includes ensuring our young people can access meaningful work experience, courses, and apprenticeships. I have already secured 13,000 pledges for these and am working with employers to create even more.

“So, I want to wish good luck to everyone getting their results this week and next, but – as someone who myself left school at 16 with an uncertain future – I’d remind you that there are many different paths to success, and I’m committed to unlocking them for young people across our region.”

Karen Shaw, head of business development, Workpays, said: “Sam joined the P2A programme, believing that a fulfilling career was out of his reach. A negative experience at school, combined with a lack of opportunity to progress, meant that his confidence was low and he felt trapped in his current situation.

“When he started his programme, the tutors took time to get to understand his learning style. They talked to him about his aspirations, and they identified his strengths and areas that would benefit from some additional work. As a result, the tutors developed a bespoke programme that enabled Sam to achieve his potential.

“Within three months of starting P2A, Sam secured an apprenticeship. This will allow him to continue his education, achieve a nationally recognised qualification, and take the first steps in his career.”

A quarter of working age residents in the West Midlands (nearly half a million people) are classed as economically inactive and youth unemployment in the region sits at 8.8% -significantly higher than the UK average of 5%.

As the region’s economy continues to change at pace more than half of all jobs will require level 4 qualifications or above by 2035.

The Mayor’s recently launched his Growth Plan for the region which sets out a roadmap for how the West Midlands can realise its potential by supporting unemployed, economically inactive, and people with long term health conditions back into work so they can help drive the economy.

The Growth Plan includes £30m for skills innovation with investment in Artificial Intelligence Innovation and prioritised partnership work with skills providers for sectors such as net zero, advanced manufacturing and construction.

The WMCA has invested £7.5m over three years into the Path 2 Apprenticeships programme which helps young people decide whether an apprenticeship is the right route for them to gain employment. The programme also provides businesses with a valuable opportunity to recruit new talent.

The WMCA offers a wide range of employment and skills programmes for those young people whose A-Level results are not what they had hoped for or who are simply looking for a different path to a career.,

A post exam guide full of useful information and advice for young people thinking about what to do next is available to download from the WMCA website: What can I do with my exam results?