PUPILS dreading the thought of college after their GCSEs are being urged to take inspiration from three students who have flourished after deciding to earn while they learn'.

Joshua Marks, 18, decided that going on to a college-based course wasn't for him almost as soon as he finished his GCSEs.

Now, while many of his friends are studying at university, Joshua is getting the chance to mix business and learning.

In September, he will go into his third and final year of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) course.

Throughout his studies he has been gaining on-the-job skills working for accountancy firm PM&M, which has offices in Blackburn, Clitheroe and Burnley.

And Joshua, from Ewood, Blackburn, said students who do not want to go to university can still maintain their education and carve out a rewarding career: "When I finished school, I didn't feel college was for me. The Connexions centre in Blackburn put me in touch with skills group Training 2000 in Blackburn. I went to see them and decided I wanted to do accountancy.

"I was keen on the idea of earning money while I was being put through my training."

Paul Thompson, 21 from Franklin Road, Blackburn is also combining the course with work at PM&M.

He said: "I went on to college at first, but I soon decided it wasn't what I wanted to do so started looking around for something else.

"My long-term plan is to qualify as a chartered accountant.

"Going to Blackburn College one day a week means I am getting an education while gaining a good, all-round experience of accountancy."

Making up the trio is Kirsty Bailey, 18, from Rossetti Avenue, Burnley, who has carved out a career at the town's Apollo cinema despite leaving school with just three GCSEs.

She got a job at the cinema but quit after six months and turned to the town's Connexions centre - one of 18 government funded advice centres in the county for 13 to 19 year-olds.

An adviser worked closely with her to pinpoint the type of job she was looking for and to examine her long-term employment prospects.

And she has not looked back after returning to the cinema two years ago, with the teenager in the final stages of an NVQ Level 2 in customer service in a bid to become a cinema manager.

Kirsty said: "Connexions has been fantastic in helping me to focus on getting a job. Without their help I would be sat at home probably claiming the dole, with no desire to find a job."

For more details about Connections visit www.13to19-lancs or log onto www.t2k.org.uk for information about Training 2000's apprenticeships.