What next? Lab technician apprentice shares alternative pathway to success

As thousands of students anxiously await their A-level, T-level and BTEC results (on Thursday 13 August), Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, has assured them they have a range of options available to land the job of their dreams – no matter how they do in their exams. 

Sending them a good luck message, the Mayor said there was a wide package of work and skills programs for young people whose results might not be what they had hoped or are simply looking to take a different path towards a rewarding job.  

Path 2 Apprenticeships is just one of the schemes on offer from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to support young people looking for their next step.  

Lab technician apprentice James Cullis is one of those who enrolled on the scheme and has shared his story about how it helped him find an alternative pathway to develop his career. 

Despite gaining good A-levels in Maths, Physics and Chemistry, he said that without the hands-on experience, confidence and skills to apply for the jobs he wanted, he struggled to secure a permanent position.  

But after joining Path 2 Apprenticeships and receiving eight weeks of mentoring and interview support through SCL Education, he gained valuable job interview skills and practice.  

Following a work placement through the scheme, he went on to secure an apprenticeship as a Quality Control Chemist and Improvement Technician at Wednesbury based company ORAPI. 

Speaking about his journey in the hope of inspiring others, James, aged 23 and from Wolverhampton, said: “I did well in my A-levels so I thought I would be all set and shouldn’t have any trouble getting work. Then reality hits and you realise you are not ready for this at all. 

“Path 2 Apprenticeships helped me focus on my strengths and gave me the skills I needed to get the job I wanted. I learned about what I could do to make myself feel mentally prepared for the interview process. 

“In the long term, I want to specialise in quality control and through the apprenticeship I can get hands-on practical experience, workplace training and a really good foundation to be able to progress into my dream career.” 

Watch video of James at ORAPI: James Cullis

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “This can be a tough time of year for young people as they wait for their results. But I want to reassure them they have plenty of options regardless of how they do in their exams. 

“I’ve made a commitment to unlock the opportunities young people need to secure the jobs they want by providing necessary training, work experience and apprenticeships. 

“James is an inspiration, and his story shows how, with the right support people can achieve their dream job and thrive. 

“So, good luck to everyone getting their results and remember that we’re here to support you on whichever path to success you choose to take.”  

Lee Baughan, technical, regulatory and quality manager at ORAPI, added: “A young person, such as James, coming in straight after A-levels is perfect for a lab like ours – we need a practical chemist rather than graduates.  

“By coming though the Path 2 Apprenticeships scheme, we didn’t have to go out and find candidates. Instead they are brought to us. That makes life much easier as we know they have the skills we need - the rest they will learn on the job, for the job.” 

Since being launched in 2024, Path 2 Apprenticeships has supported more than a thousand young people, aged between 19 and 29, with the knowledge and skills they need to secure an apprenticeship and the Mayor is investing a further £2.2m into the scheme.  

The programme has been developed with employers and skills providers, to help young people recognise and build on their talents through intensive employability skills support while at the same time enabling businesses to recruit fresh talent. 

Support with interview techniques, CV building, mentoring and work placements provide young people with the skills they need to pursue careers in a range of sectors such as construction, engineering, digital and health and social care. 

The free programme can offer up to 16 weeks of support and is aimed at young people who are currently economically inactive or unemployed and in receipt of Universal Credit. 

Further support 

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? 

The WMCA Careers Hub has partnered with Learn Live to offer a free broadcast event on Friday 21 August at 10am called Personal Branding After Results Day: Using LinkedIn to Build Your Future – packed with practical, step-by-step guidance to help students.  

This is an engaging and practical session to help students take their next steps with confidence, whether they are progressing to university, starting an apprenticeship, taking a gap year, entering employment, or exploring other opportunities after GCSEs or A Levels. It will provide students with step-by-step guidance on how to create a strong personal brand and use LinkedIn to support their future goals from an early stage. 

If you are aged 16+ and would like to join the broadcast, a school/education provider wanting to help their students navigate their options following results day, or a parent/carer wanting to learn about the options, for more information and to sign up visit: Career Friendly programme. Please note that once signed up and account approved, the broadcast will be available to watch here.