Following a successful set of A Levels, 19-year-old Joshua Trimble from Hemlington has decided to take the apprenticeship route into his dream career.
Joshua achieved three A levels in Business (C) Accounting (D) PE (D) and a BTEC in Law (Distinction Star) and is about to begin an accounting apprenticeship at Cummins Business Services in Stockton.
He said: "I wouldn't say I've been a model student, and I'm definitely not the quietest but my teachers have given me loads of support and got me really excited about a career in accounting - the teaching standard at the college is very high.
"They tell you about all of the routes into the industry after college so you don't feel like university is the only option."
Back in 2016, Joshua was part of Middlesbrough College's team that won the Teesside heat of Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales’ (ICAEW) national business and accounting competition, BASE.
He also believes his part time job at Central Park Bar and Restaurant in Middlesbrough has helped him learn vital skills that he can transfer into his apprenticeship.