Financial Solutions Apprentice Review

- Doing credit checks for businesses and then providing them with a finance quote that matches the type of solution they would like. - Emailing account managers to tell them about promotions that are going on - Emailing funders to ask about status and to ask about the background processes.

- I have learnt how to manage my time slightly better. - Improved communication skills - Improved social skills and language - Learnt skills required to do my job role effectively

- There are a lot of new skills required and jobs that I wouldn't have come across if I hadn't got this job. - There will always be people who I know I can go in order to get help for anything. - Some people I have known form previous encounters which makes it that much better because now we have something else in common.

- From what I've gathered so far, the programme seems to be structured very well. Its simple enough to understand and we know who to go in case there are things we need further explanation on. - The right people are educated well on the subjects, so we can ask them anything. - Everything we need is easily accessible and we have plenty of time to do it.

I will receive support even if I don't ask for it which is something that makes Softcat stand out in my opinion. I will still be provided with ample support when I ask for it or need it and it will always help me further my understanding into the issue I asked about. There will be questionnaires that get sent around (like this one) so that we can rate how we feel about the employer or the apprenticeship in general.

Again, I receive ample support and I know that I can ask then anything about the work I am doing. There is only 1 person who we go to for our qualification work which makes it that much easier.

Certain things that we learn about in our qualification will help me in my job role, such as communication. But some of the other topic we come across, are about businesses in general and different sectors, which I don't feel affects my job too much.

Yes there are multiple hobbies that you may join and be apart of. I am apart of: the gaming discord, photography and film club. Hopefully looking to join some more in the near future.

Yes

The Softcat ambience and aura is nothing like any other company I've heard of. Whenever I speak to my family and friends about it, and mention the fun things that we do on a weekly and sometimes, daily basis, they always say that their companies never do anything like this. Softcat really cares about the fun aspect which is one of it's 4 core values and want to make sure everyone enjoys working here. The relationships we all have with each other is more than just on a professional level which is something that I never thought would exist in my first job.

- Learn about the company culture. (This is extremely important in Softcat) - Network - talk to people outside of your role and in different sectors. Expand your contacts - Open up if a new opportunity arises - the smallest opportunity could make the biggest difference to your career. - Set yourself some early goals or targets. It will keep you motivated. - Speak up early on. Get yourself heard so others know you want to be here. - And finally, chances are, you will not have done what you have signed up for before. Nobody starts off as an expert. Don't be afraid to ask questions! And lots of them! The team you will be going into will (hopefully) will know exactly what they are doing and so you should ask about everything you aren't sure about. If you don't ask you won't get.