Aiden was chosen for the first-ever Maidstone Apprentice of the Quarter award. This was for his perseverance and determination in the face of challenges at the beginning of his apprenticeship.

Throughout the apprenticeship, Aiden showed significant improvement and achieved great results. Aiden remained engaged throughout the program, demonstrating growth and commitment. By the end of the course, he emerged as one of the stronger members of the group. the exam results that followed this were a testament to his hard work and dedication.

Here’s what our Apprentice of the Quarter said in the interview:

What are you most proud of from your experience to date?

When completing the Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements (FAPS) course, I initially worried that I would struggle with this topic as it was nothing that I had encountered before. The FI tutor, Isobel was a great support throughout and really helped with building confidence in my own knowledge and abilities.

What made you choose a career in accountancy? Was there anything that triggered your decision?

I have always been good at and enjoyed Maths, and I wanted to do something related to this in my career. My Dad used to be in this as a career, so I spoke to him about it and after decided that it was really what I wanted to go for. I felt fully supported, so decided to go for it following a university stint which I decided was not for me. I have been doing really well within both the apprenticeship and at work. There is a lot of potential for future success.

How did you approach your studies and what resources/support that FI offer did you find most useful?

I like to save the checkpoints on FI Learn before going through these to decide on areas that I need to concentrate on. I will often then also use the AAT resources for green light and mock tests to solidify my knowledge.

Do you have any study tips for other apprentices about to start their studies as the Apprentice of the Quarter?

Lots of question practise and keep going until you have exhausted all of the questions you can, once you have done these you will be much more confident about most things that could be asked of you in the exam.

How do you manage juggling work & study?

My employer allows us to take study leave days which does help massively, but I also often save the heavier revision for a day off when I am more rested and can fully concentrate on it.

How have you been supported by your company and colleagues throughout your apprenticeship so far?

One of my managers used to be a teacher of my current course content, and she has helped me a lot with support on this topic, which has been really useful in gaining a different insight into it. I also like to study with and support my colleagues who are on the same course as me. Sometimes after work, we will meet, and I have found that this really helps to support each other.

How has this contributed to both your success with both your qualifications and adding value to your employer?

Since starting with First Intuition with my colleagues, I am much more competent in work. I now understand not just what to do but how it works and all links in with my learning. It has also made me much more confident to approach my manager with questions when I am unsure of something. It can also add to the work and conversations being had around this much more now.

What are your goals/plans for when you finish your current apprenticeship?

I would like to finish Level 3 and then move onto Level 4 followed by L7 ACCA.

Why would you recommend the apprenticeship route for others?

I would say this is the best route and wish I had started with this before studying elsewhere. Learning whilst on the job makes it a better balance of both learning and working at the same time. It is so much more valuable than doing the university route that I started with before deciding to move over to the apprenticeship.

Want to know more about our Apprentice of the Quarter award across the FI Network? Take a look at our article ‘First Intuition launches Apprentice of the Quarter Award!’.

Want to know more about our apprenticeship programmes at First Intuition? Take a look at our helpful apprenticeship page.