360 Apprentice Review

I am based in the People Services Employment Technology Solutions Tax Pensions and Legal team. The majority of my work is based around an app that my team has created. I work closely with developers, reporting bugs and issues, as well as suggested improvements for future versions of the app. We have recently released v2, this has meant a lot of testing has been done to ensure the app is up to standards before we present it to our clients. Unfortunately I am unable to go in to too much detail, but effectively a component of the app is not functioning correctly so i have taken on the responsibility of generating this data manually. Whilst this job is starting to get slightly laborious, I am lucky that I have been able to really enhance my Excel skills. My team is quite small, so I don't currently have much daily interaction with other people in the firm. However, as our app is reaching out to other areas in the firm, I hope to be able to network better in the future. The other side of my work is with P11D solutions. I have been given the responsibility of drafting up over 160 engagement letters for firms, interacting with the Home Office and using companies house. This, I am told, is work that you wouldn't usually be exposed to until assistant manager level. So far my main highlight has come from having a quieter afternoon. I knew the team was looking for marketing ideas for the new version of the app, so I took it upon myself to start brainstorming ideas. I honestly just thought this would be a good idea for me to get my head around what the marketing video would look like. I showed my work to an assistant manager the next morning who was extremely impressed. From now onwards, most of my work will now be based around creating the marketing video and I have been put in all the meeting involving the development of this project.

I started this job completely incompetent at working an Excel spreadsheet. I am fortunate enough to have access to so many different training modules that are designed to enhance my skills. What is so great is that I am able to put this into practice within my team. I know that this is my major fall back and hence my team have been really supportive I specifically giving me excel work and assisting me when I get stuck! At the end of my programme I hope to be a Chartered Accountant, so far I have learnt how to do advanced bookkeeping and how to prepare final accounts

I love my programme, it has met and exceed all expectations. I have been most surprised by just how friendly everyone is. I have also loved that the work I have been doing has been so varied. I have been exposed to so many different aspects of business life in such a short space of time and hence feel I am a very worthy member of the firm. My team is also one of the best things about the firm, they expect a lot from you but equally know how to have a laugh. This has made settling into the firm a really easy process

I have been so pleasantly surprised by the large role I play within my team. I have always been respected by my colleagues, however now that they know me more and I have proved myself through various tasks, they trust me a lot more and are giving me a lot more challenging work. In terms of my fellow apprentices, I have found it really reassuring to know we are all in the same situation. Despite most other people being in audit, I feel we are all very close and use each other to help in times of need, especially when it comes to exam times!

The introduction to KPMG was so well organised. All 180 of us stayed in the Midlands for our induction week and I can't fault how seamlessly it ran. We are always assigned on the job learning from our programme advisors, and although the content is not always necessary, it is vital information that we must know. I am in regular contact with my performance manager, and feel she would be happy to help with any problems or questions I didn't feel my team could assist with. I have been presented with many opportunities within my programme, particularly in terms of leadership. The firm is very keen for people to be pushed out of their comfort zones to reach their true potential. If it wasn't for the opportunities in my programme I believe I wouldn't be able to practice these skills for a very long time. I understand that business needs are ever changing, however, I was left until 24hours before my placement officially started before I knew where I would be working. I think this could have perhaps been communicated slightly sooner.

Having come straight out of VI form, I have found it a massive contrast in the support received on the academic side of things. To be fair I attended boarding school where I had facilities and helping resources at my finger tips. I have infact been very ill since starting the programme and I have found my training provider very accommodating in delaying my exams and supporting me. I would like to say that the tutors have not been particularly helpful. A colleague of mine came to training a lot earlier one day as she had a 2 minute query that she needed answering. She asked the tutor if she could spare a minute (bare in mind the class wasn't starting for another 20 mins) to which the tutor said 'no- not really'. This wasn't the only example of this happening.

KPMG has been great, in particular my performance manager. Having been ill, they have delayed loads of deadlines for me, taken a lot of pressure off for exams and even been very flexible will time off for various hospital appointments. I have had a friend who is suffering very badly with home issues and I am informed that the firm has been great at accommodating his needs.

My salary is very competitive. I started my job commuting over 5 hours a day, so decided I needed to move to London. London living is expensive, but if I budget myself well I am able to pay rent, bills, travel, food and still have a good time in-between. The benefit scheme is very useful though, it offers a very wide range of options.

KPMG allows each employee 6 days a year to participate in Corporate Responsibility. This is effectively our way of giving back to our community. The apprenticeship schemes really encourage s us to go back to our old schools and talk of our experiences inorder to encourage more people to apply to apprenticeships. There are also many societies within the firm, this allows you to access a whole variety of different people with similar interests to you. A great way of networking!

Yes

KPMG is aa great place to work. The people are SO friendly, the atmosphere is great and there are endless opportunities within the firm. I started here knowing I wanted a career in business however knew nothing more. My programme allows me to rotate my way around the business exploring different areas. I am in a technology team at present and absolutely loving it. If you had have asked me a year ago if I wanted to go into a tech team, I would have 100% said no. I'm really glad I've been pushed to try new things!

KPMG doesn't look at what a piece of paper defines you as, but instead who you are as a person and what you can bring to the firm. My biggest piece of advice would be to just be yourself through the interview process. I remember being so relaxed in my interview, to the point that I was making jokes and I got back on the train doubting if I'd get the job. I'd really advise applying for loads of different similar apprenticeships. The more experience you can get through the process, the better!