“It always seems impossible until it’s done” – Nelson Mandela

As thousands of students found out their A-Level results this week, I can’t help but reminisce over my results day. It seems like only yesterday that floods of tears were streaming down my face as I read my results, which meant my mother thought that I had failed. How wrong she was!

Compared to 2012, the number of students scoring an A or A* has fallen by 0.3% but there was a rise in the number of students taking what are considered to be more academic subjects. This doesn't surprise me as much as the news that the number of people going to University is rising, despite the £9,000 tuition fees.

Its five years since my results day and I’d like to think I have a better understanding of my career path, than I did back then. During my school years, I hadn't the faintest idea what I wanted to do but fortunately through work experience and University I have come to discover my strengths. If I could give advice to 18 year old me, I would probably say:

‘Don’t worry about not knowing what you want to be in the future. You are most definitely not alone. Take everything in your stride, enjoy yourself, join University societies and with time, you’ll discover a bubbly, creative, confident side of you that you never knew about.’

If these past five years have taught me anything, it’s that life isn’t black and white. Yes, thousands of students go to University but there are other options too. Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to learn on-the-job. In Germany, students who don’t plan on going to University are offered a two to three year work placement – something similar to what is slowly being introduced in the UK.

This week I’ve been very fortunate to have been working at Target PR, helping me gain an insight to the world of PR. From day one I knew this was a sector I’d enjoy. From drafting press releases to editing a newsletter for the UK’s most trusted opticians, this work experience has certainly broadened my understanding of PR. I am extremely grateful to the team for welcoming me in and showing me the ropes.

To all those A-Level students worried about what awaits them, I cannot emphasise enough the importance of networking and researching. Talk to people, look on the web or visit your local Jobcentre and slowly but surely you’ll come to know what you want to do after studying.

A huge thank you to the Target PR team for this fantastic opportunity!

Lourizza Ball

Intern

Award win that stemmed from someone else's great PR

The team at Target PR is still basking in the glow of pride at winning the Small Business category of the first Gloucestershire Apprenticeship Awards, held last week.

Run by The Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo with the sponsorship backing of some great Gloucestershire businesses, the night was impressive on many levels. The Princess Royal was the guest of honour among 340 attendees there to celebrate the skills and talents of local young apprentices and the businesses that support them - as employers and training providers.

For some of the big businesses attending, apprenticeships are nothing new. Engineering, manufacturing, construction - these are all sectors that have long understood the benefits of training on the job, blending theory with practice and a living wage.

Our story is a little different. PR and Marketing has traditionally taken the graduate route, drawing talent fresh from university or as a career change from journalism, and these will undoubtedly remain popular pathways into our profession. But two years ago, we had a little light bulb moment that started our apprenticeship journey.

I was attending the launch of the '100 in 100 Apprenticeship Challenge' at the Hotel du Vin in Cheltenham. It promised to be a handy networking opportunity, I thought, with some rather nice canapes. But I was hooked by a couple of great speakers sharing their personal views - an employer and an apprentice. That, plus a chance to chat to someone from the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) began the dialogue that led to us taking on our first marketing apprentice, Courtney (pictured here on the right next to me).

The launch was the start of a series of campaigns that Gloucestershire Media has taken to its heart, leading to the awards night last week. But the idea started in the PR team at Gloucestershire College, for which they deservedly won a CIPR PRide Award.

Taking a task as vast as 'growing apprenticeships' and giving it a campaign focus has been hugely successful in this county; targets of creating 100 apprenticeships in each campaign have been exceeded, and that has created a sense of momentum. The partnership with Gloucestershire Media has been pivotal.

The pace has been sustained, and more and more 'advocates' have got involved - some are advocates with direct interests such as training providers, others are simply businesses that want to be part of something positive. Positive for their own business, and for the business community.

So for us, winning an Apprenticeship Award has been a double whammy. Great for Target - a little bit of profile and a pat on the back always does us good. And great for PR, as something that probably started at a brainstorm somewhere deep within Gloucestershire College has sparked a chain of events that are contributing to real change and a life of its own.

Sarah Bryars