Graham Dixon
Although I got some good GCSEs - 9 altogether with 7 at C and above - I didn’t fancy staying on at school to do my A levels as I didn’t want to sit in a classroom for another 2 years. I had done my work experience in the local Ford garage and really enjoyed that, so I tried to get a job as an apprentice with them.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t get one. But then another job came up with Gunness Wharf Ltd. I had relatives who worked for the company so I did learn something about them. It’s a private wharf on the river Trent, near Scunthorpe and they also had a garage where they did maintenance on trailers and Bobcat loading shovels. So my Advanced Apprenticeship was in heavy good maintenance.

My training provider was North Lindsey College. They had some specialised equipment for automotive diagnostics and so the University of Hull decided to work with them to set up a new Foundation Degree in Automotive Technologies. The College asked if there were any apprentices who would like to go on to the degree programme after their training and a few of us chose to do it.

I’ve just finished the first year - it’s day release and my employer gives me the time off and pays the fees. So even though I decided not to do A levels and go on to university, I’m still studying for a degree and am getting paid while I do it!