Business Academy Intern Review

I learned a lot from this experience! There were sessions about business writing and presenting, pitching yourself, and what makes a successful interview, as well as more specific sessions with their current apprentices on the business academy programme who would talk about their own experiences with the programme and give a detailed insight into what they do. I've learned so much about the industry and the programme and am really eager to continue working in this line and with the same company in future.

I really enjoyed the experience. They had a variety of speakers presenting, from partners at EY to recruitment team members to older students on the business apprenticeship programme. Everything was smooth and happened on schedule which made it a less stressful experience, and there were also 2 members of staff in chat specifically there to help with technical issues with the online experience. There were also fun ice breaker and energiser activities which helped me to relax and were really enjoyable.

I found the experience as a whole to be really well organised. Before the session began, there was full information provided about what to expect and any preparations we needed to make, and staff who would reply quickly to any queries or issues. During the experience, there was a timetable which we followed the whole time, and there weren't any times that the schedule was changed or delayed which I found really useful as I always knew what I was expected to do and helped me to stay organised as a participant.

I learned a lot about the company over the time. Right from the start, a partner from EY spoke to us about her own journey with the company and why she enjoys working there. But we also had talks from many other people in the company, such as recruitment team, apprentice accountants, and accountants. I've learned a lot about the culture at EY and I think I have a good idea of what it would be like to work for them in future.

Before coming into the internship, I was unsure about what I wanted to do in future. However, I now would really love to progress with EY as a business apprentice. I really enjoyed the sessions and felt like they were open and honest with us about what it is like to do the apprenticeship and I've now got a better picture of my future as an employee with EY after I've completed the apprenticeship. I've definitely gone from being unsure to having a much clearer idea of what I'd like to do

Yes, I was paid for the experience. The pay was more than I expected and it more than covered my costs for it. I didn't require any reimbursements. I was also very happy - and surprised - that I was still going to be paid the same amount for completing the internship virtually due to the pandemic, though the length of the work experience was reduced to 3 days rather than the 5 days that was originally planned

Definitely! I connected with a lot of my fellow interns on linkedin, and all of the speakers said they'd be happy to connect on linkedin or email any further questions. I feel like I've been introduced to a fantastic new network of people that I hope to stay in touch with now that the internship is complete. This includes partners, seniors, accountants, apprentices, and interns at EY that all seemed very friendly and eager to stay connected

Yes

I really enjoyed the overall experience and have learned and gained so much more from this than I had originally anticipated. It was very professional but also fun and insightful. I've met some fantastic people and gained a great insight to what EY is like as a whole and what my role would involve if I continued working for them. If any of my friends were considering a career in accountancy then I'd definitely be recommending the EY programme to them

The advice I'd give is to be really honest with them about your strengths and abilities, as they care much more about your personal qualities rather than your qualifications and achievements, which is why they have an application process that goes beyond just your grades. Go into the experience with an open mind, and take in as much as you can. Also, make sure to ask questions! They are really happy to answer anything you are unsure about so there's no need to be shy about asking for help or learning more.