Equity Reward Apprentice Review

Job title: Equity Reward Apprentice On a daily basis I would be tasked with assisting the team with a range of tasks including research, filing, drafting, etc. I have been involved in long term projects (such as surveys of executive remuneration in different sectors and advisory work for clients tasks.

I have further developed my research and analytical abilities from the work I do. I have also improved my ability to communicate and network through using the firm's impressive internal resources which make firm wide networking rather simple. I have attended internal and external training courses. From these courses I have gained technical knowledge required for the services my team provides and new skills with respect to writing for an audience in a business environment.

On my first day in an office environment I felt lost, but the team made me feel very welcome and helped me with all the queries I had. In the first week they brought me out for a meal in a local restaurant which made me feel valued and apart of the team. Since then, the team has been great to work with. The Company is simply vast. So many departments, people, services, opportunities and events. I found it to be a great environment to gain experience and knowledge from a range of sources. I would say, Grant Thornton has provided more than I expected from an apprenticeship. I was expecting to simply take up the day to day responsibilities of an admin assistant, but the opportunity provided me with so much more: - I got the opportunity to go to their national training centre to discuss (with the partners and below management employees in our department) what we thought Grant Thornton could achieve in the near and distant futures. - So much knowledge about the service line which has directed my professional ambitions - The opportunity to meet and discuss with clients who are leaders in their fields and shaping the futures for their sectors.

I have always been trusted with many opportunities and responsibilities at Grant Thornton which has always made me feel valued by all of the people I have worked with.

Training and support for my development has been great. The team have a clear hierarchical structure and a clear delegation process.

I believe the training provider could improve their organisation in respect of assigning assessors. I have had three assessors in the space of a year. This has delayed my progress significantly and has caused a massive rush to complete a number of units before my apprenticeship ends.

I have the ability to get help from anyone in my team, department or the rest of the firm on any queries I have (around 40,000 employees globally) because of Grant Thornton's impressive networks. Generally, I will not have to query people outside of my team, but occasionally I have had to get support from our people nationally and internationally.

I believe the wage is fair for the experience and qualifications I have along with the responsibilities I have in the job. It covers my expenses outside of work.

Grant Thornton offers loads of opportunities from all corners of the firm for its employees to get involved in outside of work. They host events such as conferences and discussions (some of which I have attended) which can go over a range of topics we can advise on. They host networking events for the improvement of inter-firm relations and they promote and host a range of charity events (e.g. charity abseil down the office tower block coming in the summer)

Yes

I have friends who are also in apprenticeships and there is no contest between the experience I get in comparison to theirs. The opportunities available in Grant Thornton for someone in such a junior role is somewhat incredible.

- Be positive - Be commercially aware - Be proactive - Be considerate