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.
EtonX Online Self-study Courses
EtonX offers a diverse range of quality online courses, enabling young people aged 13+ to aspire and excel. Designed for self-study, these web-based courses empower students with essential leadership, communication, and academic skills for success at school and...
National Saturday Clubs Across Greater Manchester
Young people across the country are spending Saturday mornings at their local university, college or museum discovering subjects they love. Saturday Clubs are open to 13–16-year-olds of all abilities and are free to attend. Joining a National Saturday Club is a unique...
Skills for Life
Skills for Life. It all starts with skills. The Government have launched their Skills for Life service, packed full of information on training options and careers ideas, as well as details on where else you can go to get help with your career. If you're thinking about...
Build your career plan with Xello
Xello can help you build your career profile and explore jobs and courses that you might like. It’s available to every state high school and college in Greater Manchester for free. You’ll need to get a login through your school, but once you’ve got yours, you can start to build your own career profile.
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.
Earth Day 2024: Careers that Invest in our Planet Webinar
Date: 18/04/2024
Time: 1:30pm-2:30pm
Suitable for: Anybody interested in green careers
Join this celebration of International Earth Day! Students will gain insight into careers which help to restore our planet and will hear from inspiring role models who do their part in building a sustainable future.
Careers for the Environment Virtual Careers Event
Date: 05/06/2024
Time: 1:30pm-2:30pm
Suitable for: Students interested in careers for the environment
Founders4Schools is hosting a virtual careers event where students will gain insight into careers which help nurture the environment.
Festival of Apprenticeships Manchester
Date: 02/07/2024
Time: 10am-3pm
Suitable for: Anyone considering an apprenticeship
A roadshow exhibition promoting & celebrating all things apprenticeships comes to Manchester!
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.
Career Pathways with Greater Manchester Police
Meet Your Future: National Careers Week 2023 Careers in the Public Sector Career Pathways with Greater Manchester Police National Careers Week in 2023 was all about careers in the public sector. In these Meet Your Future sessions, we met people working in the public...
Hear From Natasha Hall, a Horticultural Apprentice at RHS Garden Bridgewater
In this article, Natasha Hall, a Horticultural Apprentice at RHS Garden Bridgewater, tells her story. She explains why she chose an apprenticeship with the RHS, as well as what she likes about it. Read on to find out if a career in horticulture might be something that...
T Level Placement Guide: Unlocking Insights with T Level Placement Students at GMCA
In this article, two current T Level placement students at GMCA share their experiences. Kaja Davies and Veronika Torres are both undertaking a T Level placement so you can hear first hand what they think about it. Read on to see how Kaja and Veronika delve into their...
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.
