Testimonials
Real stories. Real impact.
Every family’s journey is different, and so is every next step.
Our highlighted stories show how OneBigNext® helps teenagers, young adults, and their parents navigate choices with confidence. From A-level decisions to alternative pathways, degree apprenticeships, and career-defining interviews.
Watch how they moved from “What now?” to “We’ve got this.”
Cyber degree apprenticeship success with neurodiversity
"It's fair to say that my daughter Jessie struggled with mainstream education. [...] She wanted to pursue a degree apprenticeship in cybersecurity or technology, but she [...] doesn't typically respond well in a high stakes situation."
"Together we came up with a focused and well-paced plan to prepare Jessie [...] This included a no pressure site visit to her employer of choice, help with applications, and interview practice with managers in a similar industry."
"Jessie is now in the 3rd year of her degree apprenticeship. She enjoys the purpose and routine of work and is developing her social skills, her friendship circle, and confidence every day. She's also enjoying earning money while learning and travels frequently."
Lulu M, Mum of neurodiverse 21 Year Old Cyber Degree Apprenticeship employee and student.
Cambridge Interview Preparation
"The questions that they ask you are hard and when I was doing practice questions at home, I felt really nervous that I wasn't going to be able to answer a question that they threw at me in an interview, but Sandra really helped me with that. "
"She also managed to get me in contact with two current Cambridge students, and [...] a Natural Sciences graduate, and it was really useful to talk to her about her interview and also what she was doing currently in her career."
"But what I think was so, so useful, Sandra managed to get me two mock interviews [...] It was so useful just to practice what I would be doing on the day and also simulate that environment that I will be in, because it is quite a pressurised environment. "
"After working with Sandra, I felt that I was in a much better position for my interview. I felt a lot less nervous and also a lot more prepared to tackle the questions they could throw at me. And I definitely think it helped my interview performance overall."
Ella R (Age 17), applying to study Natural Sciences at Cambridge
Building a Portfolio to Access the Creative Industries
"The biggest impact that Sandra has had is that she's really given my son some perspective. [...] Now fast forward, he's 17 years old and he's looking at conservatoires and universities for music. He now has all the knowledge that Sandra gave him about what the options were for each course, for each university, and what he needs to do to get himself there."
"He has been slowly building his portfolio. He's been attending summer schools, he's been volunteering and doing work experience, and this has helped him decide what he wants to do."
"The most valuable help would be, is that she's actually formed a really strong connection with my son, and she's really taken the time to listen to him and what he wants from life. And that's been really invaluable, because she's thought outside the box to really make him see what his choices are and what options are open to him, and as a parent that has been massively reassuring."
Kerry-Ann J, Mum of 17 Year Old Composer and Animator
Next Steps for Home Educated, Neurodiverse Daughter
"She was successful in her application and interview, and she's been made an unconditional offer, and I don't think we would be in this position had we not spoken to Sandra."
Samantha F, Mum of 16 Year Old exploring a career in Media
Preparing for the Royal Navy Admiralty Interview Board
"I got to the Admiralty Interview Board stage, and then I realised I'd never actually had an interview before."
"Since working with Sandra, I've gained much more confidence in interviews and feel I can prepare myself for any future interviews in my life."
Evan W (Age 18), talented Cyclist and Adventurer keen to join the Royal Navy
The Dream: Cycle Team Mechanic
"My son is 15 and he knows where he wants to get to in work in the end, but he really has no idea how to get there."
"Sandra put together a really detailed report, which included a number of options that we can think about that my son could apply for. But it also included some really useful tips about support that he would need, like in finding industry placements."
"It's also given us a sharp focus on what he needs to achieve at GCSE to get there. I also feel really empowered now to be able to support him through the application process, but also what comes after that, that he'll need for the course as well. "
Ben L, Dad of 16 Year Old aspiring cycle team mechanic
Choosing the Right Pathway for a Career in Space Science
"Working with Sandra brought a real sense of clarity for my son, and she made what was quite a challenging process as easy as possible, and she did it in a very kind, patient and compassionate way, but also with that understanding that this is a massive decision and that these university graduates will come out with a significant amount of debt so that the decisions they're having to make now at this young age will affect their future."
Corinna F, Mum of 19 Year Old studying for a degree in Space Science
Exploring Degree Apprenticeships and Other Alternative Pathways
"I had several talks with Sandra about what I'm good at, what I'm not so good at, and how that would affect me in future careers. We also talked about how different jobs I could progress from them. And how different jobs interact with each other. I've narrowed down my choices with what I would like to do after A Levels. I've decided that university may not be the best pathway for me."
Jodie T (Age 18), applying to join the Police force via Degree Apprenticeship
Choosing the Right A Level Subjects for her Future Career
"Sandra did that in a very calm way. She was able to have conversations with my daughter where she could ask the questions back without fear of threat, without fear of not knowing what was expected of her. And Sandra has helped my daughter immensely in being able to make those choices."
Lynne Y, Mum of 16 Year Old interested in a career in Physiotherapy
Confidence and Strategy to make Different Decisions at 18
"Working with Sandra has helped my daughter to target her approach and to identify her next steps, and has really helped to remove the inevitable prejudice and bias that a conversation with a parent would obviously bring, which is an immense help."
Andy T, Dad of 18 Year Old taking a different pathway to her school friends
Choosing the Right School and A Level Subjects
"I found myself stuck between what to look for in a new school. Or to just press on and carry on at my current school, with the risk that I might not enjoy it or do well."
"Sandra helped me by helping me work out my options with regards to my future education. And what A levels I should target for my field of study at university or beyond. And she also helped me even out the pros and cons of staying at my old school or going to a new school."
"As a result of Sandra's help, I chose to move schools."
"I picked 3 A Levels which I am really enjoying. I feel like as a result of moving schools I'm a lot more motivated and I feel like I'm a lot more productive both at school, in lessons, in my frees, and also at home as well. "
Reece J (Age 16), now thriving at a new school, studying A Levels in Maths, Physics and Chemistry
Progressing from College to a PhD in Nuclear Physics
"She really got to know our son, she really gave him a really helpful advice and once they'd settled on a subject, helped him in terms of understanding how to get the best UCAS application in place."
"Being that very much trusted, neutral voice, someone that he could talk to and that wasn't a parent and actually make progress with and really took her advice and guidance on board, which was such a relief because he was really up for that advice when it wasn't coming from us. "
"He's now been through his first degree and is actually studying for a PhD in his field, which is quite special."
"But it's more than just a job, it's a career that she's opened up for him [...] He's really pursuing something that means something to him. "
"She really took the pressure off, [...] it can be quite a stressful process, this whole piece, and she really took that pressure away from us, and he's doing really well, and we're really grateful for his success."
Sarah M, Mum of 24 Year Old studying for a fully-funded PhD in Nuclear Physics