Tom, you are 19 years old and founder of http://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk, why did you choose to set this site up, rather than going to university yourself?  

I set the site up after huge pressure to go to university and had very little insight into the alternatives (nothing given by my college) and my experiences of working alongside graduates at weekends that couldn’t “use” their degree.

We’re not anti-university in any way! But exist to give a positive voice to young people looking at alternatives to university and ultimately help them through their options. We provide advice & opportunities on different key areas such as apprenticeships, a-level trainee schemes, scholarships, employer-led study and how to get a degree without getting into debt.

Times are tough in the market at the moment, are you finding it is working?  

Yes it is…. we launched officially in November and have already received 15,000-20,000 student visitors per month. It has also attracted big name employers and training providers such as Sainsbury’s, where we helped them in a school leavers’ campaign and we gained great exposure. The Open University and the Association of Accounting Technicians were also among the training providers.

It is an “old idea” to do apprenticeships or vocational learning, rather than choosing to go to University, what is your view?  

Both do have a place and neither is better than the other – it’s about what’s right for the individual. A lot depends on the “end game” what you actually want to do; if you want to become a Doctor or Barrister and so on, it’s the right route. But if you want to work in aspects of engineering, healthcare, business management, construction or even accounting, the vocational route is a really good viable option, if you’d rather get paid to learn and not incur debt.

In order to promote your website, what has the media exposure and speaking at party conferences been like?  

We’ve had great press. Channel4, BBC, Sky and numerous broadsheets and newspapers have been interested. It’s been really good fun and helped raise our profile. We really want to be seen as the voice of the ‘not going to uni generation’. I was involved in various debates at the Labour Party conference – it was a great opportunity to get our message out there and quiz the policy makers. Sometimes the media bits can be a bit nerve-racking!

Having been involved with the Labour Party Conference, has there been a noticeable interest from either Government policymakers or the like?  

A number of politicians in the education and work arena showed interest and the Learning Skills Council have said they support our aims. The Learning Skills Council looks after apprenticeships, vocational training and qualifications, with the goal to improve the skills of young people in England, which ties in nicely with our belief. But we are yet to find our champion within Government who can help us in much bigger ways. The fact that politicians keep moving positions doesn’t make it easy.

Has there been any interest from the Conservatives?  

None as yet, I’m looking to make some contacts in the near future; it seems a wise move!

What are your hopes for the current generation of school leavers?  

My hope is that the current generation is better informed and can make a more selective choice about their future. There really are great viable alternatives to uni and I don’t want this generation forced or pressured down any particular route or to feel that they are a failure if they didn’t get the grades to go to uni. The tide is turning and in the current climate parents and students don’t want to be burdened with unnecessary debt.

What are your ambitions and goals?  

To help change the landscape of vocational qualifications to be viewed as an equal to going to uni. And also enable students to incur less debt and a career they want. My business goals are to become the UCAS of the non-grad market.

And finally, who do you feel has inspired you in your personal and professional life?  

Personal inspirations include my girlfriend (without her I wouldn’t have even set up the website!) and my brother who I’ve always looked up to, as he has continuously given motivation and been supportive. Professionally I’m motivated by successful entrepreneurs, particularly Peter Jones, of Dragons Den, who does a lot of work with young entrepreneurs. He comes from a similar background to me, and has proven that you can create your own opportunities, despite not having gone to university.