Finance Apprentice Review

I am a finance apprentice and my current role is in Tax with Sky. Since joining Sky most of my time has been spent analysing Sky's expenditure to check what we cam claim back on VAT and what qualifies for Capital Allowances. I have two projects and that is to make sure Sky don't incur any penalties for any surveys we receive and to make sure they are all directed to my team and also to try and change the policy in which staff provide VAT receipts for accommodation so that Sky can recover the VAT as at the moment most of the VAT doesn't get recovered. I have to speak with other members of the tax team for help sometimes but in the near future will be contacting staff members to ask them to provide a VAT receipt and heads of departments to try and encourage them to encourage their staff to provide these receipts.

I have not started any of my qualifications apart from my BPP Apprenticeships assignment but will hopefully work towards my BPP Apprenticeship and CIMA Level 4. I have picked up Excel very well and my skill-base in excel has increased dramatically in my time at Sky so far. I have also increased my knowledge in Tax, Sky as a company and business skills such as emailing, meetings etc.

I really enjoy my programme and I enjoy coming to work as my team are relaxed but hardworking, I feel encouraged to be at my best by Sky and the environment is an exciting, fast paced place to work. It has definitely met my expectations, and more.

I feel as though I am a good part of the team and I hope I will be a positive addition to the company and Sky make you feel like you will be. As an apprentice I feel as though I have been welcomed with open arms and the hospitality has been great. My manager always makes sure that I am involved in meetings and that I have a good amount of responsibility and reign to put my own mark on the way i think tasks can be completed.

Our induction was brilliant and was jam-packed with detail and was brilliant as a starting block for my time at Sky and was great to learn about the way the company works and the way my apprenticeship will work. My manager discusses my progress often to make sure I am on track and offers just the right amount of help when it is needed but not too much that i dont learn anything.

It is very easy to email my training provider and she responds very quickly and the assistance out there is fantastic and the amount of detail in the Learning Environments are good.

I meet with my apprenticeship coordinator in Sky every month for a catch up and my manager has been more than helpful with the advice and assistance he has given me along with my team members who have also been there to help any time ive needed them to be.

I walk to work so i dont have any travel costs to worry about and the salary is fantastic for somebody aged 16 and gives me enough to live financially independent which is very important to me.

As I am 16 there aren't many opportunities to join in on nights out and socialise as much but there are some events that are non drinking that I can join in on and will do. There is a voluntary initiative which you can volunteer 2 days a year in the Sky Academy which I have yet to do but definitely will. 7 Stars due to the fact I can't go on nights out.

Yes

It is great for young people to get a good starting ground if they would like to learn more about finance or the media and Sky is brilliant for getting that building block for the future.

Be yourself at every possible moment. If you are yourself and you are right for the job you will get it no problem. Don't worry if you feel like you won't get the job because chances are if you are yourself then you'll get it if it is right for you!