11 – 15 years
Get advice, help and support from GMACS to get you thinking about your careers and education choices.
Meet your education choices
You can choose from a wide range of options for education and training. You’ll need to make a choice when you finish your GCSEs, so learn about all the different options now.
If you’d like to go on to further education, you could choose to take A levels, T levels, or BTECs – or a combination of these.
Or you could kickstart your career with an apprenticeship.
Opportunities and support
There are lots of opportunities for you to experience working life in Greater Manchester. And there are lots of support programs designed to help you transition along your career journey. See some of the options tailored specifically for you below.
Boost your digital skills with the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s Certificate in Applied Computing
Want to build digital skills that could help you in school, college and future jobs? The Certificate in Applied Computing, developed with the Raspberry Pi Foundation, is part of the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc). The MBacc is made up of seven gateways. A...
Have Your Say with the Youth Voice Census
Have your say on life, study, work, and your future! The 2026 Youth Voice Census survey is your chance to tell us what’s working in Greater Manchester and what challenges you face. Last year, more than 8,000 young people across the UK completed this survey. The...
#Beewell Needs Your Voice
#BeeWell depends on young people to help us improve youth well-being in Greater Manchester. Your voice matters to them. if you're aged between 12 and 16 and want to influence the lives of young people, join the #BeeWell Youth Steering Group. With your help, the...
Get connected with travel around Greater Manchester
If you’re under 16, you can use an igo card to keep your travel costs down. The igo card allows you to use child tickets on buses in Greater Manchester. You can also use it as proof of age for travelling by tram with a child ticket.
To qualify for an igo card, you must:
- Be aged between 5 and 16
- Be a permanent resident of Greater Manchester, or go to school here
Your igo card will last until the end of August after your 16th birthday. It costs £10 to apply.
Discover careers and jobs events
Greater Manchester is packed full of careers, jobs, and education events that you can attend to help you discover what options you might like to take. See some events designed for you below or see what’s in your area.
Ada, the National College for Digital Skills Open Morning
Date: 14/04/2026
Time: 10am-12pm
Suitable for: Year 10/11 students and their parents/carers/family members, and teachers/careers professionals
Ada's Open Events offer a first-hand look at what makes Ada a truly unique place to learn.
Ada, the National College for Digital Skills Hackathon
Date: 15/04/2026
Time: 10am-3pm
Suitable for: All year 10s and 11s in GM
Ever wondered how tech projects are created? Join Ada for their Hackathon to find out more!
Get more support from GM Higher
GM Higher’s website has lots of resources that could help you, whether you’re thinking about higher or further education. Their website covers everything from course choices and finance to student life and lots more.
GM Higher have also produced a guide to higher education in Greater Manchester, packed full of all the info you need to make the right choice for your future.
Get more advice and support on our blog
Read blog posts and articles from people just like you, as well as posts with expert advice from people in industry and education.
What Could I Do with My Qualification? Jobs You May Not Have Explored: Maths
Love a subject in school, but you’re unsure what a career in the field would look like? You think that you’d thrive in the sector, but don’t know what job role you could do? Well, we’ve got you covered. This blog is a part of our series that focuses on different...
National Careers Week 2026: Celebrating Our Industrial Past – How You Can Continue Greater Manchester’s Story With a Career in Engineering and Manufacturing
Something many people don’t realise about Greater Manchester is that it wasn’t just important during the Industrial Revolution, it was actually the first industrial city in the world! Those famous worker bees you see across the city? These are a symbol of the...
Advice on How To Start Your Small Business From the Young People Doing It
As it was recently Small Business Saturday, it got us thinking about what being a young entrepreneur in Greater Manchester feels like. Starting your own business can feel like a scary prospect, especially if you don’t have anyone in your life that works as a...
Hear from real people about their careers
We’ve spoken to some people about their careers – how they got started, what choices they made, and what they like and dislike. Reading about other people’s experiences can help you make better decisions – explore some examples below.
