Final Week as Graduate Apprentice

So today is my final week as the Graduate Apprentice. I have now moved into a flat in Central Birmingham and I start a permanent job at Glide on Monday. In many ways this year has flown by, but my first day at Deloitte seems like ages and ages ago because so much as happened since then.

I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my career, working for three very different firms has given me a well rounded experience of different working environments and I hope to bring the lessons I have learnt at all three of them into my job next year. James Richards has been my mentor throughout this year and I have met him on a regular basis – it has been great to bounce thoughts off a neutral person who is not involved in any of the companies, particularly about decisions about a permanent position next year – a decision that could affect the rest of my life!

 I met James last week to talk about the exact role I will be doing at Glide. The company is going through a really exciting phase of transition, looking at new revenue streams after its recent rebranding. I cannot wait to be a part of it! I am looking forward to taking on a challenge with a lot of responsibility.

I am meeting Josh, who has been selected to be the next Graduate Apprentice, tomorrow for a beer and to talk about what he has got to expect this year. It was great to sit in on the interview process and be on the ‘other side.’ It made me feel very priviliged to have had this opportunity because the calibre of candidates was so high.  Good luck to Josh, who I know will have an amazing year!

Thanks to everyone that has made this year so good for me, particularly the three employers – Deloitte, Glide and Brewin and also Birmingham Future. I have got to know and worked with some great people and want to keep in touch with all of them. Although I am excited to be starting a new challenge, in many ways I am sad that this challenge is coming to an end.