National Apprenticeship Week 2023
National Apprenticeship Week 2023
7 February 2023
This week is National Apprenticeship Week, a time to bring together businesses and apprentices across the country to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy.
Now more than ever, Enable recognise the importance in investing into our future workforce, offering a range of development pathways to new and existing employees. Our industry has a lot to give, and we believe the perfect way to learn is through the incredible range of apprenticeship pathways on offer. To spotlight the impact apprenticeships can have, we would like to introduce Mary Amoako, an apprentice in our finance team!
Accounting and Taxation professional level 7 apprentice
Duration: 2 years
Completion date: March 2024
Mary Amoako is a valued member of Enable’s finance team, joining us in July 2022 after commencing her apprenticeship at her previous employer. When Mary joined, we took on her apprenticeship as a transfer in order for her to complete it and reach her goal of having a level 7 qualification in accounting and taxation.
In the spirit of national apprenticeship week, we sat down with Mary to ask her some questions about her experience as an apprentice:
What are the benefits of doing an apprenticeship?
“I believe that you get a lot more help and support as an apprentice, both in the workplace but also throughout your studying. At Enable it has felt management are more hands on with me, making sure I am professionally developing in line with my qualifications and monitoring my progress. I have definitely found that an apprenticeship is much more flexible than university. Your life doesn’t have to be on hold and you can earn whilst you learn, which is key.”
What challenges do you face as an apprentice?
“Sometimes it can be hard working and studying at the same time and finding balance. I sometimes struggle to make sure I have time for everything. On occasion I have to take time off work to complete exams, which creates a backlog of work for me to come back to. It feels like it can my colleagues have to compensate for my absence somewhat whilst I’m away, but we are working hard to combat this through better collaborative planning and communication. The finance team are always so accommodating and super supportive of me which I really appreciate. There is a lot of empathy and understanding for those who are undergoing their journey to becoming qualified at Enable.”
Would you recommend an apprenticeship to others?
“Oh, absolutely. To get a good job in finance, you need experience and qualifications, so having the opportunity to work as well as learn at the same time means you will move up the ranks much quicker. There is no point having all the qualifications but no experience, so with an apprenticeship you get both. The key to success is having a good manager, which I am very lucky to have, and a good tutor, who to me has been a very good mentor. And of course, the biggest bonus of all, is that you don’t have to pay for your qualifications. No student debt for me!”
Mary is a shining example of how invaluable apprenticeship opportunities can be. We would like to thank her for not only showing dedication to personal development, but for also being a proactive member of the team. We are confident that Mary has a long and successful career in finance ahead of her.
Enable looks forward to shaping positive professional opportunities like Mary’s in the years ahead!
