THOUSANDS of young Bradfordians face a nervous few days as they anxiously await the results of their GCSE exams.

And even after students open that fateful envelope on Thursday morning, they still face the big choice of what to do for the next few years.

Often those who don't get the grades they want struggle to decide what to do next, and even students who do get the results they needed sometimes find themselves at a crossroads.

A number of events have been held across the district later this week to help young people decide their next step.

Bradford Council has organised two "What Next?" events in Bradford and Keighley later this week.

The two free events take place on Thursday from 11am to 3.30pm in Centenary Square, Bradford and Friday from 11am to 3.30pm at the Airedale Centre, Keighley.

Organised by Bradford Council and Prospects, the events will include information and support from the Bradford Apprenticeship Hub, colleges, training providers and Connexions advisors.

Staff attending the events will explain to young people what options they may have to find an apprenticeship, choose a college course, what sixth forms across the district are offering and which training courses are available.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Portfolio Holder for Education, Skills and Culture, said: "It’s a tense time for young people as they receive their results so we’ve organised these events to show them some of the different options available. The events will offer impartial advice to help young people consider what their next step could be in their career.”

Bradford College is also hosting an open day on Thursday, where students who have just received their results can come to speak to tutors to get advice and see what courses are available. The open day will run at the College's new David Hockney Building from 11am to 2pm.

Shipley College is also offering GCSE advice and guidance sessions on Thursday and Friday, from 10am to 3pm both days. There will be Careers PAs, Student Services staff and tutors available to help young people decide what to do post GCSE.

And local training groups have advised students that there are other options available than traditional A-levels.

AAT, a qualification and professional body group, has released figures that show the earning potential of young people who "earn while they learn" by studying vocational courses with on-the-job training such is £8,688 per annum for 16 -18 year olds.

Kristie Milner, from Bradford, was 16 years old when she decided she was going to start studying AAT. She left school and was unsure of what she wanted to do at college.

Initially she enrolled on an Extended Diploma in Business course but wasn’t passionate about it. She was pulled aside by an AAT tutor who suggested she spend a day in the AAT Level 2 class to see how she liked it. She enjoyed the course and enrolled the next day. She is currently studying for her Level 4 AAT accounting qualification, while also working as a finance officer for WISE, a Bradford based group that inspires girls and women to study and build careers using science, technology, engineering and maths.

Now 19, Kristie said: "I was not always very academic at school and I didn’t enjoy it. I think many people were convinced that once I finished I wouldn’t do much. I believe that if I didn’t study AAT my life would be very different and I wouldn’t have the great job that I have now.”

And Bradford’s City Training Services has urged young people to seriously consider the benefits of taking up an apprenticeship once they leave school.

Part of Bradford College, CTS has more than 33 years’ experience in helping young people in apprenticeship programmes in the Yorkshire region and currently has 140 places available across a wide variety of sectors. Current opportunities advertised on its website include vacancies for engineers, welders, childcare, dental nurses, motor mechanics, plumbers and business admin.

Head of City Training Services, Richard Hinchliffe, believes Bradford is leading the way in apprenticeship training.

“We attract around 2,100 apprentices to train at CTS which makes us one of, if not the largest in the North of England.

“We have been placing and training apprentices for more than three decades and all our staff provide full support for the individuals throughout their programme and will visit them in the workplace as well as at the centre for day release.

“In addition, the team at CTS are always on hand to explain to the young person and parents what is involved in the apprenticeship programme before they make any commitment.

“By enrolling with CTS an apprentice could be working, learning and earning within a few weeks of leaving school.”