Finance Apprentice Review

My role as an apprentice means that I am able to work and gain experience in the work place alongside my AAT studies. I am able to apply my knowledge gained from the workplace to my studies and vice versa which has been very beneficial. My current role sits within the Financial Planning and Analysis team and I am able to get involved in a variety of tasks such as Headcount, Capex and the preparation of PowerPoint slides for important meetings with senior management. This role has allowed me to network with a lot of colleagues from around TUI Finance and I always have daily interactions whether it be with my line manager or another colleague.

Since joining the apprenticeship scheme in 2018, I have been able to gain my level 3 AAT qualification and am in the process of completing my level 4. I think that one major skill that has developed the most over the course of my apprenticeship so far is communication. I have developed my communication skills through writing emails, attending meetings, asking questions to colleagues and liasing with external individuals.

I have really enjoyed my apprenticeship programme so far. I have been able to work in two very different roles which has helped me to understand different aspects of finance. The company culture is excellent- everyone at TUI is very approachable and are always happy to help which has been really useful especially coming to work full time straight after finishing my a-levels. The programme has been better than I expected- I have gained so many new skills, been given many opportunities, worked with a multitude of people and, best of all, I have been able to learn and earn money at the same time.

My apprenticeship programme has been very well structured. I had an induction course with First Intuition, when I first started the programme, which was useful. We have regular courses with first intuition and I have found that this has been a good pace for me in terms of studying whilst working. The support from both TUI and First Intuition has been great. I always feel able to ask questions which has proven to be really beneficial, particularly when it comes to studying and revising for exams. First Intuition have been able to give me detailed feedback on any completed assignments and mock papers which has been really beneficial for my revision.

Prior to Covid when I was working in the office, the HR early talent apprenticeship team set up regular meetings with all the apprentices from the office as an opportunity for us to voice our opinions and any concerns about our apprenticeship. Any problems were always addressed very quickly which was really helpful. Currently, working from home, I have weekly catch up meetings with my line manager to discuss the weeks priorities. This has been really useful as it has enabled me to plan my time effectively to ensure I complete my work within deadlines. I always feel comfortable approaching my team to ask questions and I have taken advantage of this since starting my new role in FP&A in November last year. This has been really beneficial, especially when people aren't as accessible due to working from home.

Now that I have moved on to level 4 in my studies, I have found the step up quite challenging. As a result of this, I have been able to seek guidance from First Intuition and they have been really helpful. They have provided me with extra revision materials and answered any questions I have had. Whilst revising, I keep in contact with a colleague from First Intuition who is able to provide me with feedback on any online assignments or mocks I complete which has been really beneficial. It allows me to identify the areas I need to focus on prior to my exam.

Studying whilst working has been useful for me. I am sometimes able to take something that I have learnt from my studies and apply it to my day-to-day work and vice versa. Often, I find that sometimes it isn't so easy to apply my studies to my work as my work can be very specific whereas my studies tend to be more generalised. However, I am still able to apply the underlying concept which is helpful.

I have been able to attend a few social events with TUI which has been nice. I have found it has been a good opportunity to familiarise myself with others from around Finance and talk to new people. I have also been involved in a day out with my team where we did some work for the local community. As a wider team, we decided to help a local school tidy and paint their outdoor area. This was good for team building and ,again, another opportunity for me to network with others from finance in a more relaxed setting.

Yes

I would recommend TUI to a friend as it is a fun place to work. The people are always friendly and approachable and there is always something to get involved with. TUI, prior to Covid, held learning weeks in the office every couple of months which was an opportunity for colleagues to learn about different areas of the business or things such as excel or perhaps something related to mental health. These events allow colleagues from different areas of the business to interact which i think is a really good idea.

If applying to TUI, I would advise that person to do their research- know about the company. I think that being yourself, and being relaxed, is important in the interviews. TUI is very much a 'people-orientated' place, so I think being friendly and approachable is important. For assessment days, my best advice would be to get involved as much as you can and give yourself a chance to show leadership where you can so that you stand out. I also think that working together with the other candidates is important as this will showcase your team working skills which is something I feel is valued at TUI.