Apprentice Review

I currently work in the Employment Solutions technology team. I manage one of the biggest workstreams in my team and I provide assistance on other workstreams. On a day to day basis I have meetings with clients, developers and my team to discuss the progress of the project and how we can improve it then I take lead to ensure it happens.

My project management skills and leadership skills have definitely developed since being in this team. It was a position that came unexpectedly but I stood up and grasped the opportunity. Building relationships with clients is another skill I developed and I am pleased to say that my clients are confident in the service i provide for them.

I really enjoy the programme, it has definitely been the best decision I have taken in life having choosing it over university. The opportunities to develop and progress as both an individual and professional is amazing and my managers and team are extremely supportive of both my personal and professional development.

From a department perspective I definitely feel valued and this is reflected in the work I am entrusted with from my manager. Dealing with clients directly and making important decisions for the project I lead gives me a sense of importance. Not many people are exposed to the important decisions I make that are at the same level as me.

In the first three years I believe that the programme structure was well and sufficient however when progressing onto level 7 I believe it could be structured better. From a level 7 point of view i believe there should be more flexibility in terms of doing exams singularly rather than completing more than one exam at a time.

The support from the training provider is not bad but not the best. I believe training could be provided on a more soft approach rather than cramming in what they can in a few days however I do understand this is due to timing constraints the tutors have from the firm that they have to teach us in.

From my department I receive an immense amount of support. I have daily catch ups with my manager to discuss work progress and if there is anything I need to support me in my work. We also discuss what I can do to develop more skills and exceed my position.

The salary meets majority of my living, travel costs but I do have to sacrifice having a social life due to my costs. Living in london is extremely expensive and I would like to get on the property ladder my self but all in all the salary does meet costs.

KPMG provides many opportunities outside of work that we can get involved in. The most common one for an apprentice is to go back to our schools and run an employability workshop for students who will go onto universities or apprenticeships. This allows us to give back to the community and train those whose position we were once in to get ready for real life.

Yes

The KPMG apprenticeship is an opportunity for those who like working without having the need to sacrifice their educational needs. The firm not only provides apprentices with a job but they work on you to develop and gain skills which you can use outside of work and they also help you on education.

The recruitment process for KPMG is a very competitive one. My advice for others applying is to not hold back whatever the case. They should sell themselves as a dragons den pitch because the market is competitive but they should also not be demotivated by this and feel as if they would not get it.