I didn’t go to uni

Jessica SherringtonBBC NewsGetty ImagesLloyd Wakefield on the crimson carpet for the 2023 iHeart Radio Music AwardsAs 1000’s of scholars throughout the UK open their examination outcomes, many are preparing for the subsequent massive step: college. However that path is not for everybody – and it would not should be.BBC Information spoke to 4 former pupils who selected a special route and nonetheless landed their dream jobs.From working with animals at Chester Zoo to photographing Harry Types on tour, their tales present that skipping college doesn’t suggest lacking out on success.’Do not rush it’When 29-year-old Lloyd Wakefield was rising up in Stockport, he did not think about his future behind a digicam, and definitely not on tour with one of many greatest pop stars on this planet.”Up till faculty, my solely objective was to be a footballer,” he says.”I am not essentially the most tutorial. I did not click on with any classes outdoors of PE. I am a hands-on particular person.”When soccer did not work out, he took a job at Aldi. “It took me two years to regulate, to seek out any sort of course or goal outdoors of soccer,” he says.He “caught a bug” for pictures by a pal’s movie digicam, spending their days off going out and taking photographs collectively.Educating himself by YouTube and many trial and error, Lloyd started messaging companies and chasing alternatives. That led him to a backstage gig at Trend Week, and ultimately to photographing Harry Types’ Love On Tour. “In case you advised me once I was working in Aldi that I might be within the music world, on a tour, it was so polar reverse of the place I assumed I used to be going to be.”Lloyd WakefieldLloyd Wakefield with Emma Corrin, star of The CrownHis work at Love On Tour landed him the title of favorite tour photographer on the 2023 iHeartRadio Awards. He has additionally labored with different celebrities and types similar to Dua Lipa, EA, UFC and Arsenal FC.In the present day, Lloyd runs Lloyd’s Workshop, a artistic group for younger photographers with out connections or formal coaching.His recommendation for different younger creatives is to take their time.”There is not any disgrace in getting a traditional job,” he says. “Use it to fund your ardour. Do not rush it.”Trying again, he says selecting to not go to college was the precise name for him. “I discovered far more by simply sort of placing myself in these conditions on set. The advantages vastly outweigh the negatives.”‘Simply go for it’Chester ZooFrazer accomplished a Stage 3 zookeeping apprenticeship at Chester Zoo after his A-levelsFrazer Walsh’s journey to working with lions did not start in a lab or lecture corridor – it began with a job advert he noticed by likelihood.”I utilized for 3 completely different universities however I did not need to go – it was simply because I felt I had no different choice,” he says.”Then I noticed a Chester zookeeping apprenticeship listed and thought: ‘Oh my god, that is my dream, it is one thing I’ve at all times wished to do.'”The 21-year-old, from Widnes in Cheshire, was “obsessed” with animals from a younger age, he says, driving his mum “insane” along with his love of David Attenborough.However he had no concept how you can flip that right into a profession.”You do not actually hear of many zookeepers, or should you do, you do not actually understand how they bought into that place within the first place,” he says.Chester ZooFrazer feeding the otters at Chester ZooNow a professional keeper, Frazer is prospering.”A few yr into the apprenticeship, I used to be lastly capable of work with the lions on my own. They’re your duty then, you are taking care of them, and you are taking quite a lot of pleasure in it.”That’s one thing that I am going to at all times preserve with me.”Frazer’s recommendation to high school leavers is just like Lloyd’s.”Simply do not rush it, as a result of it is your life, is not it?” he says. “A job like that is actually as soon as in a lifetime, so simply go for it.”‘It is okay to not have all of it discovered’Thaliqua SmithThaliqua Smith with rappers Large Zuu (left) and AJ Tracey (proper) on set for Large Zuu & AJ Tracey’s Wealthy FlavoursFor south Londoner Thaliqua Smith, film-making was at all times the dream, however going to college to get there simply did not really feel proper.”I simply felt like college needs to be executed,” she says.”They had been saying the one means for me to get into [directing and producing] was to go and do additional research. But it surely simply wasn’t one thing that I used to be significantly curious about.”After her dad urged she look into an apprenticeship, Thaliqua discovered the Channel 4 manufacturing coaching scheme.”It simply sounded actually cool,” she says. “I assumed, ‘Wow, that is nice. I am working, I am studying for a yr. I am incomes cash for a yr in a area that may be wonderful.'”Thaliqua was certainly one of simply 10 individuals chosen for the primary yr of the scheme. From day one, she says she knew she was in the precise place. Thaliqua SmithThaliqua initially wished to be an actor earlier than discovering her love of manufacturing.Now 25, she’s labored on exhibits like The Apprentice, Bare Attraction, and Wealthy Flavours with Large Zuu and AJ Tracey. She’s filmed overseas in Spain and New York and has moved as much as the position of assistant producer.”I did not journey a lot as a child, so to be flown to wonderful locations, staying in lovely inns, assembly insanely cool individuals – it is a dream come true.”Now she says she’s obsessed with spreading the phrase. “Apprenticeships are wonderful, [but] I needed to dig by Google to seek out mine. They need to be promoted far more.”Her recommendation is to “not let anybody persuade you you possibly can’t do one thing”. “It is OK to not have all of it discovered,” she says.”Even individuals who act like they have it discovered in all probability do not.”Turning a passion right into a careerFaye HusbandFaye, from Teesside, began her personal nail enterprise after doing her personal as a hobbyFaye Husband’s college years had been removed from typical. Identified with persistent fatigue syndrome, in addition to Pots – a situation which causes dizziness – and hypermobility, she struggled with attendance and nervousness.”I had quite a lot of day without work and it was onerous managing being off after which coming again to high school and academics and pals not understanding,” the 19-year-old says.She ultimately left mainstream college and was homeschooled earlier than becoming a member of a help unit known as Attempt. “That actually gave me my GCSEs – I in all probability would not have managed them if I wasn’t there,” she says.After going to school and incomes A-levels in criminology and psychology, Faye nonetheless wasn’t positive about college. That is when her dad and mom urged turning a passion right into a profession. “I might executed my very own nails for years and my mum and pop mentioned, ‘Why do not you do a course and do it for different individuals?'”Faye HusbandFaye is usually booked a month in advanceWorking from a transformed storage at house in Redcar, she now runs her enterprise Phaze Nails which is usually booked as much as a month prematurely.Being self-employed has given Faye the room to thrive regardless of her well being struggles.”I’ve met so many good individuals and made actually robust friendships from it,” she says.”That is often stuff I do not get the chance to do, as a result of I do not exit so much.”Faye says younger individuals mustn’t put an excessive amount of stress on themselves.”Be form to your self,” she says. “Do not rush your self into doing one thing that you simply’re not able to do.”