Is There An Alternative To An Expensive Degree?

One of my favourite quotes is: “If you think Education is expensive then try Ignorance and see how Expensive that is!”

There is a point though when the price of education is far too high. When I was looking to enhance my career, moving into positions above my pay-grade, employers would advertise for candidates who had HNC/HND, Degree or similar. I elected to complete an HNC, 2 years part-time evening class and continued to work a full time job — why would I choose anything else? I ended up with a ‘Pass with Distinction’.

Throughout my career I’ve worked alongside those with Degrees, the only difference I can see is that they believe they are better than me! But we are paid the same, and I haven’t accrued the same crippling debt they have, plus, I have actual, real experience of solving problems. I don't see how they're better than me, unless they believed the 'hype' and 'spin'.

When I was employed as a Pensions Manager at an Engineering Company in my local town, I actually stopped the entire workforce walking out on Strike.

The management of that company had offered a 2% pay rise to the workers (inflation was running at 7% to 8% pa), one of the Union Shop Stewards came to see me and asked it there was anything I could do. The only solution I could think of was to grant the employees a Pension Contribution Holiday, that would save 3.5% after the savings in Income Tax and National Insurance. So I phoned the Actuaries and they said that as the Pension Scheme had over £1 million surplus, it was affordable.

So, on my trusty IBM Golf-ball typewriter I typed up a proposal, faxed a copy to the Actuary for them to insert some figures. Once this was done, I retyped the proposal and presented it to the Scheme Trustees for their approval. (We did things the hard way in the old days!)

The workforce received a pay rise of 5.5%, it was still below inflation, but the company really couldn't afford any more.

I'm pleased to say the Trustees approved this and the guys on the shop floor were mightily relieved. After all, they had families, mortgages and rent to pay, and couldn't afford to live on strike pay for any length of time.

Thank you for reading to ... the End

Getting the degree is only half the story, once that's achieved, then the training for the occupation begins. In the UK it takes between 5 - 7 years to qualify as a solicitor, other professions are similar.

Of course, if money is not a problem you can keep going for higher qualifications and higher salaries.

During my career, I’ve been employed as a Senior Analyst; a Team Leader; a Manager; and, a part-qualified Actuary. The work is generally the same, resolve difficult and complicated issues, and I’ve really enjoyed the challenges those positions demanded. Some days felt like I was doing a Sudoku puzzle from morning to night.

There is of course a prestige attached to a degree, but from my perspective, only if you go to Oxford or Cambridge. I went to nursery at Cambridge, but I don't think that counts? And I completed a two week Summer School at Oxford, that was fun! But, not something for the CV.

When I attended the Trustees’ meeting, the Scheme Actuary and Fund Managers would boast about their university education and it almost seemed they were in competition as to who had the most relevant qualifications. They were justly proud of their achievements, and so they should be when it had taken years to fulfil.

The route I took wasn't longer, but it was cheaper and possibly just as demanding, also I wasn't left with the burden of a huge debt. There was a time when I wondered whether I would ever stop studying, reading and taking exams.

Yes, eventually I was earning £100,000 per annum. For a woman, who was denied further education when I left school, I felt justly proud of myself. But I don’t boast, just doing a great job for its own sake is sufficient recognition. I mostly worked in the Pensions Industry, in my role as Pensions Manager at an engineering company, I managed to stop a strike.

Many people will warm to someone they see as trying to improve their lives and conditions without trying to elevate themselves.