Different roads, same destination: exploring two educational pathways into Customer Relationship roles

We both work in the Customer Relationship team at NCFE, having also recently joined NCFE’s Young Person Ambassador Programme. This is a programme which is part of NCFE’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committee, open to all colleagues between 16 and 30 years old, offering us the opportunity to help shape the future of youth employment. 

As part of Youth Employment Week, we were keen to demonstrate that there are many different routes to success for young people. In fact, multiple pathways can lead you to the exact same career and in our experience, having a diverse range of educational backgrounds within the same team actually brings additional strength. 

We both have very different educational journeys, which means we both bring unique skills and perspectives to our roles. In this blog post, we’d like to share our individual educational timelines and the decisions that led us to our current roles, showing that one route is not superior to another! 

Our educational journeys: a timeline 

2016

Alex: I finished school after achieving 11 GCSEs 

Sophie: I finished school after achieving 11 GCSEs 

2017

Alex: I completed AS Levels in Media, Psychology and English Language at Sixth Form 

Sophie: I completed AS Levels in Economics, Geography, Government & Politics at Sixth Form 

2018

Alex: I left Sixth Form, going on to complete a Level 2 Business Administration Apprenticeship at a Technology System company 

Sophie: I completed A levels in Economics, Geography, Government & Politics, started studying a 3-year Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Leeds 

2019

Alex: I started at Gateshead Council as a Recruitment Advisor 

Sophie: I continued studying for my degree 

2020

Alex: I started Level 3 Business Admin apprenticeship alongside my role at Gateshead Council, achieving a triple distinction 

Sophie: I continued studying for my degree 

2021

Alex: I was promoted into a Business Development Officer role at Gateshead Council, as well as completing a Level 4 Employability Practitioner alongside this 

Sophie: I graduated from the University of Leeds with a BA in International Relations and started working full-time in tech recruitment 

2024 

Alex: I started working at NCFE as a Customer Relationship Executive 

Sophie: I started working at NCFE as a Customer Relationship Executive! 

The value of vocational education 

We would like to see vocational and technical education receive the same recognition as A Levels and university degrees. Every individual learns in a different way and vocational learning holds a great deal of value for many learners, offering practical skills and hands-on experience.  

This approach prepares students like Alex for immediate entry into the workforce, providing a direct path to meaningful and rewarding careers with often less time and financial investment than traditional university degrees. 

Embracing diverse educational paths 

There are so many paths to employment and the important thing is finding out what’s right for you. We encourage people to pursue their passions and consider what works best for their ambitions, their strengths and their skills. At NCFE, we believe that diverse educational backgrounds contribute to a dynamic and versatile team, ultimately enhancing our ability to serve our customers effectively. 

By sharing our stories, we hope this allows others to recognise the value of all forms of education and to confidently pursue the path that best aligns with their own goals and interests. 

Discover more about Youth Employment Week by visiting our dedicated webpage. Or, to find out more about current career opportunities at NCFE, visit our Careers page.