Business Academy Student Review

My role on the Business Academy consisted of a variety of activities on a day to day basis. Most days, I would complete small projects for other staff, such as constructing diagrams or writing sections of a report, which they would then give me feedback on. As well as this, I had meetings and talks with several staff members, giving me a better insight of different areas of the business. The virtual learning sessions have also proved very helpful and have been key in my learning over the course of the week. The only negative comment is that sometimes, I could have been given more work; on certain days I asked around 10-15 members of staff, but still was given no work.

I have developed a wide range of skills over the week. Primarily, it has tested my ability to pick up new information and then use this to complete tasks. This required initiative and independence, two skills which have definitely been tested during my time at EY. I have developed more confidence through speaking to staff and engaging in conversations in a new environment, as well as by delivering a presentation in front of a group. This session not only tested my ability to communicate my ideas effectively, but also to listen to others and be able to ask engaging and relevant questions. I have learnt a lot more about the workplace, especially a big four firm, than I have before, which is really going to help me when applying for these roles.

I enjoyed the programme from start to finish. I was put at ease instantly by the kindness and approachability of other staff, as well as by my fellow Business Academy students. I have enjoyed being in a professional environment in terms of learning, but also in terms of meeting new people and making new connections. The programme was not what I expected at all, I thought it would be a lot more structured and would treat us more like 'children', but it has been very different in a positive way and allowed us to gain a realistic insight into EY.

I do feel valued by EY, however I believe this is possibly an area for improvement. My 'buddy' for the week was extremely helpful and provided assistance throughout the week, however some other staff (not all) seemed less interested, and a lack of work at times made me feel not important. Overall, I did still feel valued, and every staff member treated me with politeness.

The programme is not what I expected at all in terms of structure, it is significantly less organised than I thought it would be. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as I believe it has given us a deeper insight into EY than simply sitting in talk sessions would. The Skype sessions were very well presented and organised, and so was the other meetings and discussions throughout the week. Again, sometimes there seemed to be a lack of work and this made it feel slightly unorganised. Next time they run this programme, I would suggest that they have some tasks already planned for each day, so that we feel busy and relevant at all times.

The training provided was very informative, and there was support throughout the week from all staff whenever I came across a problem that I needed help with. Most of the time, there was someone readily available to deal with any enquiries I had, and I found this useful in ensuring I got the most out of the week in terms of my learning and developing new skills.;

The support from other staff, especially my 'buddy', was excellent. From start to end, he put a lot of effort into trying to find me work, setting some himself, or giving me advice on how to improve my work. Our counsellor for the week was helpful throughout the week, and so were other staff when it came to resolving problems that we came across. Overall, this was an area I was very impressed with.

The pay for the week was very good. I would not expect to be paid for work experience, so this came as a great bonus. The pay was at a good rate and comfortably covered my travel and food costs for the week. There was a bit of confusion for me on whether I would have to bring my own lunch or it would be provided, considering the first day it was provided. However this was soon cleared up and overall the pay package was great.

I cannot comment in great depth about this, as I have only been at EY for one week. However, even in that time, I can see that others socialise outside of work times, which is good, and there is also an 'activity room' which we were allowed to use on the last day. This was a good opportunity to socialise with other staff and students, as well as being able to relax at the end of the week.

Yes

It has been the most valuable piece of work experience that I have completed by far. I have learnt so much about EY, the industry as a whole and just generally being in a working environment. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and it has developed a wide range of skills, which will be extremely useful when I begin to apply to apprenticeships and in day-to-day working life.

Make sure to take time when applying. In my opinion, the hardest stage is the psychometric tests, as this is where a lot of people are eliminated from the recruitment process. Prepare well, be yourself, and just do not panic. If applying for graduate schemes etc. then definitely try to get an internship or placement there before as this will greatly improve your chances when applying for the graduate positions. We have been given a lot of advice on applying over the week, but overall it comes down to showing what skills you have, and showing why you feel you deserve a position at such a competitive firm.