Young Wolverhampton woman lands dream job after leaving school with ‘zero’ GCSEs

“Don’t give up – push yourself to get the job you want.” That’s the inspirational message from Olivia Mackay who despite leaving school with no GCSE qualifications got herself on a training course and is now a customer services apprentice.

As thousands of young people await their GCSE results tomorrow (20 August), Olivia, aged 20 from Penn, Wolverhampton urged other young people not to give up on landing their dream job, even if they don’t get the results they had hoped for.

When she left school at 16, Oliva worked towards a Level 2 Automotive technician qualification and achieved a grade 3 in Maths and English at City of Wolverhampton College, while working part-time.

After being made redundant and lacking hands-on work experience, Olivia was given fresh hope when she was contacted by Wolves at Work through the Youth Trailblazer scheme and offered tailored advice and employment support.

Olivia expressed an interest in an apprenticeship or employment in the automotive sector, so the team found a local business, CC Autocentre, to take her on and she has been working there as a customer service apprentice since December last year.

Olivia Mackay, customer services apprentice at her workplace CC Autocentre

Olivia said: “I love working at this garage and I’m surrounded by the nicest team. I left school with ‘zero’ GCSEs, but I didn’t give up. I pushed myself, went to college and got my Level 2 qualification while working part-time at a pub.

“When I got made redundant, I really didn’t know what to do. But now, with the support of the trailblazer scheme and Wolves at Work, I have secured an apprenticeship so I can work towards my dream career as an automotive technician.

“I was even given a free bus pass to get to and from work for a month which really helped. The great thing is that the team provide tailored support for each individual person to help them overcome their personal challenges.”

“I’m getting a range of experience by working with customers, booking tyre changes in, calling gas suppliers and helping to keep the garage running smoothly - all while gaining expert knowledge, advice and experience from skilled technicians.

“I’m much more confident and feel like this job can get me anywhere.”

Video: Watch Olivia’s story

Olivia is one of 1500 young people supported through the Youth Trailblazer scheme,  which supports 18–21-year-olds into employment, education or training.

It is one of several support schemes Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands,has set up across the region to tackle youth unemployment.

The Mayor said: ““Olivia’s story is proof that with the drive to succeed and the right support, you can achieve your dreams.

“I’m committed to making it easier for people to learn in a way that works for them, so they can still get the job they want no matter how they might do in their exams. 

“Now more than ever, my priority is to make sure young people have options and alternatives available for them to shape a rewarding career. 

“So, good luck to everyone across the region collecting their results – and remember there are many paths you can take to success.”

Cllr Paula Brookfield, City of Wolverhampton Council cabinet member for jobs, skills and opportunities said: "By offering our young people a range of flexible options through Wolves at Work we hope to make a real impact in supporting them into work and training.

"Olivia is a prime example of the different paths available - and we're delighted to have supported her through our Youth Trailblazer initiatives, which offer structured work placements, improving transitions to education and training, and long term jobs.

"Not only is it important we equip young people with the skills for the jobs of the future, we need to ensure those opportunities are open to everyone, no matter what their background."

The WMCA offers a wide range of employment and skills programmes for those young people whose exam results are not what they had hoped for or who are simply looking for a different route to a rewarding career.

A post exam guide offering 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 engaging and practical session helps 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.

The session is open to those aged 16+, school/education providers wanting to help their students navigate their options following results day and 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.

Additional quotes:

Youth transition coach Parveen Sidhu, who supported Olivia on the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer Programme, said: "Olivia’s journey is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through determination, resilience and a positive attitude. When faced with redundancy, she quickly turned a setback into an opportunity, engaging fully with support services and remaining focused on her career aspirations.

“Her passion for the automotive industry, combined with her willingness to take advice and explore new opportunities, has led to her securing a customer services apprenticeship with CC Autocentre. We are incredibly proud of what she has achieved and excited to see her begin this next chapter. Olivia has a bright future ahead of her and is proof that, with the right support and commitment, young people can overcome challenges and achieve their goals."

Simon Bennett, managing director, CC Autocentres Ltd said: “Olivia has settled into her apprenticeship very well; her mechanical knowledge gained from her time at college where she achieved an IMI level 2 in automotive light vehicle service and repair has helped enormously when discussing issues and solutions with both customers and technicians. She has become an integral part of my team and carries out several daily tasks with little or no supervision to a good standard.

“Olivia’s greatest strength is her optimistic and positive attitude, it immediately puts customers at ease and builds trust, which is essential in a customer facing role in this industry.”