When I started my apprenticeship I wasn’t really sure what to expect from the job, from the company and from my colleagues. Having been an apprentice at M&G for a year now, I have found it to be a fantastic place to work. I have been treated as an adult, an equal and a valuable member of my team since the beginning – it has never been a case of “she’s just the apprentice”. An apprenticeship at M&G is not just a job for a year; every apprentice gains a technical qualification that relates to the area they are in, as well as an NVQ, and upon completion of the programme the apprentices are guaranteed a permanent position in the company. M&G also has a great social side, with parties, sports teams, film nights and other events held regularly - the ones of which I have been to have all been brilliant fun and a great way of meeting other people around the business.

At my interview, I remember someone asking one of the previous apprentices what they thought M&G would be looking for, to which we got told “the right kind of person”. At the time it didn’t seem to be the most helpful of comments but I’ve come to see that it is pretty accurate. It isn’t about having the all the right answers, a well-rehearsed presentation or in-depth knowledge about assets and asset management, which are all things that can be learnt or developed on the job. Much more important is the person, how they interact with others in a team, what motivates them, that they are hard-working and willing to learn.