A new film has been launched by the National Apprenticeship Service to
encourage more young people to take up an Apprenticeship in the
professional services sector. The film features four higher apprentices
working in different roles across the sector, who share their stories
about how an Apprenticeship is setting them on the way to their future
career.
The four rising stars from business consultancy firm
PwC, financial advisory company BDO, and accountancy firms Churchgate
and McBrides, also talk about the varied job roles and opportunities
available.
Employers in the professional services sector, led
by PwC who developed the Higher Apprenticeships for the sector, are
being encouraged to promote the film to other businesses and to young
people.
In addition, the National Apprenticeship Service will
use the film in resource packs for schools and at careers events across
the country.
Victoria Seeley, 20, who is currently working
towards a Tax Higher Apprenticeship at Churchgates in Bury St Edmunds,
Suffolk, features in the film. She said: "Learning on the job means that
the skills you learn are the perfect fit with your chosen career. An
Apprenticeship also gives you the opportunity to earn while you learn
giving you financial independence while you train. There are many career
paths to choose in the professional services sector and the sky's the
limit in terms of where you could end up. I would definitely encourage
more young people to think about doing an Apprenticeship."
The other stars of the film are:
⢠Lizzie Eade, 24, who is working towards a Tax Higher Apprenticeship at McBrides in Sidcup, Kent
⢠Luke Constable, 20, from Billericay, Essex, who is working towards a Tax Higher Apprenticeship at PwC in London
⢠Theresa Farr, 19, who is working towards a Risk Advisory Higher Apprenticeship at BDO in London
Gaenor Bagley, Head of People at PwC, said:
"Higher
Apprenticeship are an excellent way for young people from all
backgrounds to enter the professional services industry. Across the
sector, apprentices get to work on live business assignments and study
towards an industry qualification, whilst earning a competitive salary.
"The
Apprenticeships have been developed with employers' needs in mind and
will ensure that entrants to the sector have the right skills to help
our industry to flourish now and in the future."
Karen Woodward,
Interim National Director of Apprenticeships of the National
Apprenticeship Service, commented: "Building a career in the
Professional Services sector can be extremely attractive, stimulating
and rewarding. Whether it is in the field of consultancy, accounting,
finance, or law, skilled professionals in this sector will always be in
demand. The good news is that there is an increasing number of
opportunities opening up as more and more employers look to attract the
best talent through Apprenticeships.
"Apprenticeships in
Professional Services are a great way of entering these prestigious
occupations and progressing up the career ladder, with the opportunity
to be employed and paid while gaining a professional qualification along
the way. We hope young people will see the film and be inspired to
explore what an Apprenticeship could do for them."
The
professional services film is the seventh in a series of 'sector in the
spotlight' films being created by the National Apprenticeship Service to
promote Apprenticeships in key industry sectors.
Apprenticeships
cover more than 170 skills and industries across 1,500 job roles, over
an extensive range of skill levels. A Higher Apprenticeship in the
professional services sector covers new entrant roles in a range of
areas, including Tax, Auditing and Consulting, and is at level 4
(equivalent to the first level of Higher Education).
Government
funding is available to help companies take on an apprentice. Through
the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE) of 16 to 24 year olds,
businesses who choose to grow their business through Apprenticeships can
access funding of £1,500. The grant is open to organisations
employing up to 1,000 people, who have never employed an apprentice
before, or have not recruited one in the past 12 months.
