Finance Apprentice Review

Each day in my role can vary massively, working in a cooperate accounting role means that during the month we have different deadlines that we have to meet. During the first four days of each month, we go through month end this is where we look at the previous month's actuals, and make sure that we are accounting for all costs and revenue by posting journals. After this is complete we start looking at balance sheets, a balance sheet shows all costs or income that we have received but either need investigating or relate to future periods. I then have the responsibility of putting together a KPI (Key Performance Indicators) for Airline Finance, this is a presentation which shows key financial information for different areas. The rest of the month varies from investigating balances, going to team meetings, participating in learning weeks, and going to college to study AAT.

So far in my role not only has my technical accounting knowledge improved, but also my softer skills. TUI are focused on developing people, we set SMART objectives regularly, and focus on feed backing on them throughout the year. One skill that has majorly improved is communication, and confidence to speak to new people.

The programme offers the perfect balance of learning, and working. When I learn technical concepts in college, I often find myself being able to relate them back to the work I do. The programme focuses on not only developing my technical skills, but also softer skills. TUI focuses on ensuring that we are able to work to our own needs, by offering flexible hours, and working from elsewhere. The programme enables me to be flexible in the way I want to learn by offering classroom, and online based sessions. I enjoy that each day is full of new and different experiences, within an environment that suits me.

The programme is extremely well organised with room for flexibility if needed. Each AAT course is booked on our behalf after which we usually have a month to prepare and take our exam. During this month we can either sit the exam on the date that First Intuition think is right for us, or we are offered the flexibility of another date. We also have skills days planned for us in which we may focus on teamwork, communication, problem solving, and decision-making.

When joining TUI each Finance apprentice got assigned a buddy, and a mentor. Your buddy is someone who is closer to your age, who has just recently finished studying or who is still studying, who you are able to talk to about anything from work to studying. These sessions are booked in by your buddy, but you are able to increase or decrease the frequency as you wish. The mentor you are assigned is there to help you with your development and progress during your career, to help you push yourself towards the next level in your career.

The trading provider for my qualification - First Intuition, provide a huge amount of support when working towards my qualification. During classroom sessions our tutor offers us a huge amount of support, we are always able to contact her through email if we have any questions to do with our course content. When studying online, we were also provided with a tutor who would be able to check on our progress, and offer support on anything. We have a separate skills and development coach, who focuses on ensuring that our portfolios which show evidence of our work place learning are up to date.

As I am studying AAT, this directly links into my role on a daily basis. I often find that when I am studying I can apply my knowledge back to the work that I am doing. During the first 8 months of studying I have often found that I come back to work with an even better understanding of what I am doing. By working, and studying I am constantly applying the exam principles, which enables me to have a deeper understanding, and improves my ability to perform during my examinations.

At TUI there are range of activities to get involved in. We have a choir who practice a lunch times, and perform at local events, and put on performances for colleagues. There are a range of sporting activities from a TUI netball team, to a running club that train over lunchtimes and after work. Lunch and learns often occur where you can either learn about another area of the business or develop new skills. Every couple of months we have learning weeks, in which we can take time out of work and focus on either developing skills, or trying something new. This can range from working on your personal development plan, learning sign language, or playing mini golf.

Yes

I would recommend TUI to a friend, as the apprenticeship scheme that I am on has enabled me to progress so far in such a short period of time. I feel as though I have learnt new things extremely quickly, in an environment that has enabled me to do so. There is always someone there who is willing to help you and wants to ensure that you are able to progress through the business. TUI ensures that I am able to study while working, constantly assuring the balance is right for the stage that I am at in my programme. The job role I am in is constantly adaptable to ensure it meets the work balance that require, I never feel as though I have too little or too much to do. I am supported throughout my study and development, by people who really do care about my progress.

My advice would be for others wanting to apply for TUI, if you find a role that you are interesting in go for it and don't look back. TUI UK is part of a bigger group across Europe, it offers wide opportunities, and being a FTSE 100 company it offers you the reach to anywhere. Travel is growing industry, with more and more people wanting to go on holiday each year, with TUI being a conglomerate you able to focus on many areas of travel from the airline to hotels to booking.