Thinking about your Options?
Start shaping your future with the right choices.
Explore how the subjects and skills you’re learning now can lead to exciting, high-earning careers in Digital Technology, Business & Finance—one of the UK’s fastest-growing and most powerful sectors. From building the next big app to running global companies, trading millions on the stock market or creating viral digital content, this is where creativity, logic and ambition turn into serious money and real influence.
Check what’s available at your school and remember: choosing a strong mix of creative, technical and analytical subjects keeps your options wide open and your future full of possibilities.
Core subjects
What to study?
Relevant Year 9 Options Subjects
Closely Linked Subjects
💼 Business – Builds understanding of entrepreneurship, marketing, finance and how companies really work.
💻 Computer Science – Core coding and programming skills that open doors to software development, AI and tech giants.
🌍 Geography – Key for logistics, global trade, data mapping, GIS systems and understanding international markets.
🎨 Graphics – Essential for UI/UX design, branding, advertising and digital content creation.
📸 Photography – Highly relevant for social media management, e-commerce visuals and digital marketing campaigns.
📽️ Creative iMedia – Perfect preparation for games design, video production, animation and digital content creation.
Linked Subjects
🍽️ Food Preparation & Nutrition – Links to food retail, supply-chain tech and hospitality business systems.
✂️ Hair & Beauty – Connects to salon management software, beauty e-commerce and influencer marketing.
🏛️ History – Develops research and analytical skills useful in economics and business strategy.
🙏 Religious Education – Builds cultural awareness vital for global business and international finance roles.
🧵 Textiles – Relevant for fashion retail, e-commerce platforms and supply-chain technology.
🗺️ Travel & Tourism – Directly ties into online booking systems, travel tech startups and tourism marketing.
Career areas
Unlock Careers in Digital Technology, Business & Finance
See the high-paying, future-proof roles you can unlock with this gateway—from creating the apps everyone uses to managing multimillion-pound companies.
The table below highlights 10 of the most popular and diverse roles currently in huge demand—perfect starting points for your future.
Career Areas within this Gateway |
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👨💻 Content Creator
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Post-16 opportunities
Below is a list of College courses, Click on the provider:
⚙️ Mechanical Engineer / Design Engineer – [Web link to page]
🏭 Manufacturing / Production Engineer – [Web link to page]
🤖 Robotics & Automation Engineer – [Web link to page]
🖨️ Additive Manufacturing Engineer – [Web link to page]
✍️ Industrial / Product Designer – [Web link to page]
🎛️ Control & Instrumentation Engineer – [Web link to page]
✅ Quality Engineer / Quality Manager – [Web link to page]
🧪 Materials Engineer – [Web link to page]
🔧 Maintenance & Reliability Engineer – [Web link to page]
🌿 Sustainable Manufacturing Engineer – [Web link to page]
Below is a list of companies offering training opportunities:
IAE – Stoke-on-Trent – [Weblink to page]
Goodwins International – Stoke-on-Trent – [Weblink to page]
Bowson Engineering Ltd – Stoke-on-Trent – [Weblink to page]
Glebe Engineering – Stoke-on-Trent – [Weblink to page]