Contributed by our friends over at HFE the UK's leading provider of personal training courses and fitness qualifications...

In 2018, it was reported that the UK's health and fitness industry was worth an approximate £5bn and the number of gyms reached over 7,000 for the first time. It's also estimated that 1 in 7 people in the UK is a member of a gym. All these figures point to one simple fact: the best time to get into the fitness industry is right now!
 
Of all of the possible roles for young people available in the fitness industry, there's one that stands head and shoulders above all others in terms of appeal and mainstream popularity and that's of a personal trainer. There's no doubt you'll have a picture in your head of a personal trainer and you've probably seen a fair few when you've ever been to a gym. Now the common stereotype is that PTs just stand around and don't do very much. They've probably got a clipboard (or iPad if they're fancy), a stopwatch and they just spend time watching clients exercise. If you’re lucky they might even chime in every few minutes with words of encouragement. 

The UCAS deadline has now passed. Hopefully you can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing yours was submitted ages ago. If that's the case, here are the four possible responses you could be getting in the next few months:

School and college is pretty heavy going. You start when you can barely walk or talk, then it’s full-throttle all the way until you hit 18, and are set free into the big bad world.
 
For lots of people, it makes sense and feels right to go straight into university once A-Levels or Highers are finished. For others, it doesn’t. And that’s just as groovy.
 
Maybe uni is on the cards, or you fancy the idea of some sort of higher education in the future, but now’s the time to take a break and try something different.
 
And why not? 

Money never seems to stick around for long, as a student and there's so many myths about student finance it's hard to know what to believe.
 
Whether it’s bills, books, burgers or booze, there’s always something you’ll be whacking out your contactless card for, and avoiding checking your bank statement because of.
 
That’s why we’re here to help with a few tips and tricks to make your cash last just a little bit longer. 

​New Year, same beautiful old you. But if you haven’t been working in the past, 2019 could be the year you make your way into the world of work and bag a part-time job.
 
Obvious perk? Cash. You earned it, no one can tell you what you can/can’t/should/shouldn’t spend it on. Want to blow a week’s earnings on a massive Dominos order? Do it. Those chicken strippers will never taste better.
 
(Not that we recommend you make it a regular decision, but if you’re going down this route, remember you get a pretty nice 35% student discount < https://www.dominos.co.uk/blog/students/>)
 
Besides the financial independence though—because what could be nicer than having a few spare pennies to rub together—are all the extra benefits.
 
Like… 

So you’ve just started uni and the student loan is rolling in. Maybe you just got a part-time job and are finally making some hard earned cash. Maybe you’ve landed an apprenticeship and are now in control of your own money for the first time.
 
Becoming financially independent is a pretty incredible feeling, but it also comes with some downsides. Namely, there are some pretty nasty people out there looking to take your cash from you.
 
In the digital world we live in, email scams have become commonplace and they’re not always as easy to spot as you might think. 

UCAS already?
 
If you know you want to apply for uni then you have nearly a year until your UCAS application deadline for 2020.
 
But if you're clever (and we’re sure you are), you'll want to be as on-the-ball as Cinderella’s godmother and get your application right at the front of the queue. That means getting it submitted by around half term this Autumn.
 
Still think you've got ages? Just think about all the lessons, summer exams, Saturday jobs, parties, holidays and procrastination you've got to fit in. Blink and the year will be gone...

You’re probably looking forward to the festive season. But as you know it can be a stressful time as well as a happy one.
 
If you’re a student, then returning to the family home after a period of independence is challenging. Plus the most wonderful time of the year is also the most expensive!
 
What’s the best way of avoiding pressure at Christmas, whilst taking the strain off your bank account? Our guide is here to light the way.
 
From wrapping presents to warbling carols, our Santa’s sack is full to the brim with tips. So what are you waiting for? Let’s go-ho-ho…

In the world we live in, it’s increasingly more valuable to be as internationally minded as you possibly can.
 
And no, we don’t mean that you should be mixing up your weekly tikka masala order, and would be better off getting the occasional Chinese or Italian takeaway instead.
 
Being internationally minded - where you’re open to different cultural behaviours and attitudes, and can embrace new ideas from beyond your bubble - is a crucial and invaluable attribute. 

​Studying abroad in Rome, taking a year out to backpack Asia, working a placement in New York - the chance for young people to get out and see the world is just as popular as ever.
 
And why wouldn’t it be? Now’s the perfect time. No obligations, no career commitments, no pesky mortgages to pay.
 
Once you’re free from the grips of school, the world really is your oyster.
 
But there’s something that anyone hoping to trot the globe has to worry about, and that’s how to fund it. 

If you asked a handful of under-10s what they want to be when they grow up, chances are at least one of them is going to say astronaut. You might get a few more who’d come out with YouTube slime reviewer or professional Fortnite dancer, but space explorer is a timeless classic.
 
We’d be lying if we said it doesn’t still sound like one of the coolest careers out there.
 
But out of everyone who’s ever dreamed of piloting their own rocket, how many people actually ever wind up with the elusive job? Not many – but maybe not for the reasons you might expect.

Your mates in the year above might be able to breathe a sigh of relief having submitted their final UCAS and apprenticeship applications, and rightly so. But for you, the process is quickly becoming a reality. So now is a good time to  splash some cold water in your face, puff your chest out and start an exciting research project called: what I’m going to do at 18.​

If you try to put your finger on the education background of someone in a senior position in the government, chances are a few things would spring to mind.
 
Private school education, for starters. An Oxbridge degree would be no surprise.
 
That’s what we’d all expect, right?
 
Well, shadow education secretary Angela Rayner’s background might come as a bit of a shock to you.

If your plan for next year is university (or a higher education course via a college) then you’ve already submitted your application, right? If not, then get a move on. The UCAS deadline (January 15th) may be the official cut-off, but a lot of places will have been filled already. It’s like a queue: being at the back still means you’re in, but the good stuff might be taken by the time they see you.

Winter is more than just Netflix binges and hot chocolates (we're boiling the kettle right now...). As the festive period dawns on us, how we approach it is like being presented with a turkey wish bone - or a Quorn one vegans (although we're actually not sure how that would work): we can pull one way yet and be convinced good vibes are coming our way, only to be surprised by the eventual outcome...

As we like to say at Push, higher education isn’t for everyone. Different people have different strengths and this means different routes to their ideal careers.

Neither of my parents took academic routes into their jobs; In fact I was the very first member of my family to go to university. This may be the same for you and I agree, at first it may seem quite daunting, but you shouldn’t worry...

Whether you’re writing your very first CV and cover letter, or working from an old one that’s full of  ‘hobbies’ you’ve only ever done once, or  questionable ‘work experience’, you’re now at an age where having a strong CV and cover letter is extremely important.

After all, who doesn’t want to earn some extra cash or, most importantly, get experience that’s going to impress companies when you leave school or graduate.
​
Nearly all employers require a CV and cover letter as part of the application process. So, it’s important that you understand the basics of drafting them. To help you out, we’ve pulled together our advice on how to write a CV and cover letter.

So, you're settled into the swing of sixth form. In the future is Christmas and your next proper break. Sadly, that’s not all it holds: the future’s creeping up on you like a scary clown. The difference is your future's not a goofy fourteen-year-old in a mask.

The deadline for applications to Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary science courses is today, so get a move on if you still want to apply. Otherwise, you’ll have to take a gap year and apply next year — which might not be so bad anyhow. To double check other upcoming deadlines or application requirements go to the UCAS website.

We’re lucky that mental health awareness is ever improving, and the stigmas and taboos are slowly being lifted. But that doesn’t mean we live in a perfect mental health utopia, so it’s important to look out for yourself and plan ahead if uni’s in the cards for you.
 
One of the most important things to do if you suffer with your mental health is to look out for universities who have a strong support network for students and their mental health issues.

Good student finance is difficult. It’s not like riding a bike. And if it was it would be the worst bike in the world, with pins sticking out of the seat and no pedals.
 
A typical student will be living away from home for the first time. There’ll probably be no financial safety net as you booze your way around town racking up debt.
 
There’s a simple answer to this problem - start as you mean to go on. Embrace student life, but make sure your head is screwed on before you take the plunge.
 
Our guide teaches you 5 habit-forming tips that will work wonders for your meagre budget, freeing you up to focus on study, and of course having fun… 

It might be shocking to know, but 4 out of 5 people between the ages of 18 and 21 know someone who has experienced a mental health problem. A quarter of all people in the same age group are worried about the mental health of someone their age.

And, according to the NUS, among students, it’s an even more critical issue. 63% of university counselling services have reported an increase in psychological distress among students.

So maybe uni isn’t for you. No problem, there are as many different styles of learning as there are people in the world, and it’s just fact that some learn better by doing than by reading from a textbook. If that sounds like you, now might be a good time to start thinking about apprenticeships.