It’s National Apprenticeship Week 2024! This annual event is an opportunity for the education and skills sector to celebrate the achievements of apprentices around the country and the positive impact they make on communities, businesses, and the wider economy.

At PKF Smith Cooper, we are hugely proud of the fresh perspectives, enthusiasm, and skills our apprentices bring. We now have 34 apprentices across 7 service lines, and we take immense pride in our commitment to apprenticeships, as not only does an apprenticeship contribute to individual career growth, but it also strengthens the future of our business as our apprentices continue on their career journey with us. 

As part of National Apprenticeship Week, we wanted to take the time to get to know some of our apprentices a bit better.

What motivated you to choose this apprenticeship and a career at PKF SC?

Alice - I chose to do a HR apprenticeship because I knew that I wanted to get my HR qualification whilst still being able to get some workplace experience and earn some money. I also chose to do an apprenticeship at PKF SC due to their exceptional reputation across the Midlands, their culture, and the benefits that they offered to their employees.

Jack - There are many factors that motivated me to take an apprenticeship, one being that I’ve always wanted to be an accountant taking after some of my family members. I believe the apprenticeship route s rewarding as you get paid to learn and the skills you learn get put to daily use, I also gain valuable working experience which always looks good on your CV and it’s also nice to see how much you can progress within a time frame.

Izzy - I was motivated to choose this apprenticeship as I wanted to start working as soon as possible and new I had an interest in accountancy (my Grandad had his own accountancy firm, so it runs in the family!). I wanted a career with PKF Smith Cooper as I knew they were a company that helps develop and support their employees in achieving their goals.

What do you enjoy most about your field of work?

Alice - What I enjoy most about working in HR is the fact that it is a very people facing role, so I get to know everyone across the firm. I also enjoy being able to send out letters to people regarding successes such as bonuses, successful probations, and promotions.

Jack - I enjoy working with numbers, I find it very rewarding when you oversee a job from start to finish. I very much enjoy working with the multiple teams and colleagues we have within the Birmingham office, this has created a friendly and welcoming environment for all to work in.

Izzy - The thing that I enjoy most about my field of work is problem solving and getting to learn from my more experienced colleagues and other apprentices.

The theme for National Apprenticeship Week 2024 is ‘Skills For Life’, which skill do you think you have most developed to date?

Alice - One skill that I have developed whilst on my Apprenticeship is confidentiality. Confidentiality is extremely important in HR as we handle a lot of personal information and data, so I have learnt how to handle this data so it’s stored safely and privately.

Jack - I believe I have developed and improved multiple skills to date, I have always been a confident individual and I believe communication to be a key asset to have, whether your communicating with clients or communicating with your colleagues and managers within the workplace, the ability to speak confidently and clearly always comes across well.

Izzy - The skill that I have developed most since starting my apprenticeship is using Excel as before starting work at PKF, I had very limited experience using it.

What do you hope to do after completing your apprenticeship?

Alice - After completing my apprenticeship, I would love to continue to work in HR and potentially work my way up.

Jack - After completing my apprenticeship, I will move onto complete my chartered accounting certificate. After gaining my chartered certificate, I would like to go to Australia for the winter to play cricket over there as an overseas professional as this would be a one in a lifetime opportunity as well as getting to travel and see new places, a plan I’ve had for many years!

Izzy - After completing my apprenticeship, I hope to stay on at PKF Smith Cooper and get the opportunity to complete my Level 4 AAT and then my ACCA qualification.

Apprenticeships at PKF Smith Cooper

We understand that not all big ambitions involve university. With our apprenticeships you'll gain hands-on experience, support from people who know what it takes to succeed and a fascinating insight into the business world. And the best bit? Earn whilst you learn! Take a look at our current vacancies or register your interest to be kept up to date with our latest openings.