Skipped Uni, went straight to a job in financial services. In late 70s as insurance co.s moved their admin HQs out of London, Bristol benefitted.
Jobs, jobs, jobs thru late 70s and into 80s, as insurance co.s took on 16 year olds and 18 year olds in droves thru each Summer and trained us up. Jobs with benefits and a real paternal instinct from banks and insurance co.s.
I attended a grammer school and most fellow pupils went to Uni – not that i kept in touch with many of them post-school, but i know from other pals that only a few really ‘made it’ after Uni. Others ended up no better off than those of us who went into employment after 6th form.
No regrets from me about missing out on Uni.
Today? Well, if you aint academic then go out and get an apprenticeship in engineering, plumbing & heating, electrician and similar. Crikey, today’s plumbers or sparkies are as well-off as yesterday’s teachers. Around here a plumber/heating engineer or a sparkie earn anything from £75k to £100k per annum.