At SThree we are committed to supporting young people in building a successful career. This is why we nurture partnerships with local charities such as City Gateway who connect us with young people with a view to taking them on as an apprentice for a one year contract while they study for their NVQ in business administration. Rez joined in July 2016, read on to hear his story….
What attracted you to SThree and where was your placement?
When I came for my interview, I really liked the atmosphere here as it was different to any of the other places I had been for an interview. The people who interviewed me were friendly and made me feel very welcome. I’d previously worked in Accounts Payable at another company and wanted to stay in finance. So I was really pleased this role was in the Tax and Treasury team.
What are the key aspects of the role?
My job is doing the daily cash management, refunds, liaising with our banks, investigating payments and reporting. I’ve learnt about the role Tax and Treasury play in the business and, even though I’d worked in Accounts Payable before, this was completely different and a lot more interesting.
How were your first few weeks?
The first week was pretty tough getting used to the new role and new people. However, once I started getting to know people and understand what I was doing I settled in and haven’t looked back.
What would you do differently?
I’d ask lots of questions from the start. If I’m learning a new task but didn’t understand the background of why I’m doing it or the impact it has – I’d ask the team to explain.
What happened when your apprenticeship finished?
I was really pleased to be offered a six month contract to continue supporting the team’s busy workload. During my apprenticeship year, the team increased my tasks and responsibilities which has helped to make me a valuable member of the team.
What are your career aspirations now?
I’d definitely like to stay in finance and possibly tax and treasury. I’m even looking into getting qualified.
How would you describe working at SThree?
We all work hard but there is a good work/life balance. People are friendly and sociable. We have areas where we can all have lunch together and nobody is left out. Diversity and inclusion is very important here and I love the fact there are opportunities to progress up the ladder regardless of your background.
What advice would you give to future apprentices?
Seize every opportunity - I did and it’s paid off!
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