You can learn a trade rather than just be a labourer… these days just because you learn a trade doesn’t mean you won’t go to college, especially if you want to do something like electrics or plumbing as you have to study for safety certificates. Often your employer will pay for you to go on day release. Bear in mind there are gonna be loads of people wanting solar energy and efficient houses as energy costs go through the roof…

A lot of my younger friends are working as apprentices in this manner. OK the pay isn’t great but better than £9000 debt per year from uni, especially as even if you have a degree its not guaranteed now you have a high paying job..

And you can still go to uni when you are older, people older than me sometimes start at uni after years of working….