Alexis Considine discusses her progression from an Accounts and Finance Apprentice as The Wigley Group celebrates the 15th annual National Apprenticeship Week between February 7-13.
One of the best things about an apprenticeship is the opportunities you are given.
When I completed my A-Levels, I knew I was interested in an apprenticeship to get a recognised qualification whilst also gaining practical experience.
That’s where The Wigley Group came in, offering me a role as an Accounts and Finance Apprentice in January 2017. I was quickly exposed to a range of tasks within the accounts department and was able to apply my theory learnt with the apprenticeship to my day-to-day duties, building up valuable experience.
A year after starting as an apprentice, I was promoted to a new role as an Accounts Assistant, which gave me more responsibilities and the chance for progression within the company.
Little did I know that the following year I would be made a double-award winner! In 2019, I was crowned Apprentice of the Year at the Coventry Telegraph Business Awards and Accounting Higher Apprentice of the Year at Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training. These are achievements I would never have expected when I began my journey as an apprentice, but I was over the moon! I had put in hard work and dedication and it felt fantastic to receive recognition.
Shortly after I was promoted to Contracts Finance Manager, and a year later I was made Finance Manager. These are opportunities that would not have been possible without deciding to start an apprenticeship.
But my studies haven’t ended with my apprenticeship. The Wigley Group has supported me to complete my Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Levels 3 and 4, my Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Level 3, and I am coming to the end of my first year of completing my Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) qualification.
Looking back, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity this apprenticeship at The Wigley Group has given me. It has just been the start of my journey. I have recently celebrated five years at Wigley, and I can confidently say the apprenticeship has kickstarted a career for me that I love, with the additional bonus of being surrounded by a great team of colleagues.