I'd started to think about my working career during my second year at HLS, my ambition was to be an architect but my hopes were dashed by the careers adviser who said, in a sugar coated way,
you've got no chance, so, still keen on drawing board work, I set my sights on an engineering draughtsman.
In my fifth year me and my mate applied for a place at the Lucas Engineering School, Gt Hampton Street. The selection process consisted of various tests and interviews all day, I was exhausted and left the building knowing I had not done very well. Sure enough I got a letter a few days later telling me I had been unsuccessful at gaining a place at the Engineering School but was offered a commercial trainee position at Lucas Gas Turbine, but with intransient attitude it was the Engineering School or nothing I turned it down, with the benefit of hindsight that was probably a mistake. It was poor consolation my mate (who was much brighter than me) also failed to get a place.
I found out quite recently that the Lucas Engineering School got up to 2000 applications per year, so it was some achievement on my part that I even got a place on the selection process and even more so that I was offered a place at the Turbine Division.
Anyway, I dusted my self off and shortly after got an interview at Salisbury Transmission Ltd, Witton where I was offered a Birfield Group (later became GKN) Technical Apprenticeship, link:
https://www.birminghamforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=15244.msg694378#msg694378