From my experience, it is both in classrooms as well as online. You sit the courses with other people in the firm at the same time, so you will see familiar names. It isn't uncommon for you to form study groups within your year either. Although, while there will be others from the firm on your course, not everyone will sit exams and college at the same time. This depends on the qualification they are doing, in order to stagger people being out of the office.

17 May, 2023 16:43

Perfect thank you - are there any societies you join through uni or is it just for lectures and seminars

17 May, 2023 16:44

There are societies within the office, such as a football one and the womens network

17 May, 2023 17:02

Have you joined any - and do you honestly feel like you missed out significantly on the "uni life "

17 May, 2023 17:03

But for the uni side, it is just for learning, rather than a more social aspect

17 May, 2023 17:03

I don't feel like I'm missing out on the "uni life". I often go for drinks with my team (which are free - so better than uni!), and go out for socials with the team. It is hard in some ways having not gone to uni so I don't have the direct comparison.

17 May, 2023 17:04

Other apprentices I know feel similar too. You have a year group when you join and often stay with that year group provided them with the social aspect too.

17 May, 2023 17:05

How many people roughly are in your year - and do you speak to the other apprentices who are doing digital technology or audit

17 May, 2023 17:05

We have 15 apprentices, and many many graduates, I don't even know how many aha

17 May, 2023 17:06

And that's my year only, we talk to those in the year above and below too

17 May, 2023 17:06

I speak with apprentices in all the departments.

17 May, 2023 17:06

Aww - do you ever feel like a small fish in a big pond - as i am worried going to work 4 days and being thrown into the deep end

17 May, 2023 17:07

Thats great and so nice to hear - what about the gender ratio roughly ?

17 May, 2023 17:07

I did feel like that for the first week (being truly honest), but everyone was so welcoming, it didn't take me long to fit in at all!

17 May, 2023 17:09

Which location are you based in ?

17 May, 2023 17:09

I was never thrown in the deep end. I was allocated a buddy (who I went to about everything) and was amazing!

17 May, 2023 17:10

I'm based in Reading

17 May, 2023 17:10

Did you by any chance apply to any other apprenticeships and get accepted - as im having a hard time choosing and am a little nervous

17 May, 2023 17:11

Gender ratio is fairly equal.

17 May, 2023 17:11

I did apply for other apprenticeships. I looked at the qualification I was receiving from each and the reputation of the firms

17 May, 2023 17:11

For me, EY was all about their people and the benefits provided are amazing and won me over. Secondly, the qualification was the chartered accounting one which is the one that interested me most and appeared to open up the most opportuntities.

17 May, 2023 17:12

There was also the advantage of being a bigger firm with international opportunities which appealed to me

17 May, 2023 17:12

I went to EY twice actually for the open day and for a stem graduation event - i did feel very welcomed and i know the people there were really nice - do you still feel it was the best choice you made and do you feel supported along the way of your apprenticeship

17 May, 2023 17:13

Have you had any international opportunities or big corporate events

17 May, 2023 17:13

That's amazing! it's things like that which won me over!

17 May, 2023 17:13

I have no regrets on my decision

17 May, 2023 17:14

Just make sure you do your research so you know you're doing the right thing for you

17 May, 2023 17:14

I felt supported all the way through by so many different people. I have so many people to thank, so many connections and my peers who went to uni are now joining the firm (same age but only just starting their chartered accounting qualification, when I've just finished mine)

17 May, 2023 17:15

My big international opportunity comes next year, where I can be seconded to New York for 4 months (which is a really common thing for people in my department)

17 May, 2023 17:15

Oh woow - i definitely love the idea of this programme and i think the idea of working 4 days a week and studying is fun and quite interesting . - does that mean you will stay in New York for 4 months !! - what year of your apprenticeship are you on

17 May, 2023 17:17

I am in my final year of the apprenticeship (hopefully qualifying in September)

17 May, 2023 17:18

Yes, you stay in New York for 4 months working from their office

17 May, 2023 17:19

Oh woow - how many years have you been at EY and will you continue after your qualifications - also is the new york trip fully funded by YE

17 May, 2023 17:19

I plan to continue after my qualification. I am looking at all the opportunities provided by EY and am looking at going on a client secondment too, to broaden my experiences.

17 May, 2023 17:21

I joined in September 2018, but am slightly behind my year group due to various reasons.

17 May, 2023 17:21

Yes, the travel to and from New York will be paid for by EY

17 May, 2023 17:22

That all seems brilliant - i think the international trip is what excites me most and the idea of working on real life projects - what is your favorite part of EY and what it what you expected when your first joined

17 May, 2023 17:23

Parts of it are what I expected, others not so much (as expected)

17 May, 2023 17:24

My favourite project to date, we did a tax strategy day in London, where all food was provided. We ended the day with private dining at aqua shard. (a restaurant in the shard - fanciest thing I've ever been to)

17 May, 2023 17:24

More broadly, I love the people I work with. They always put a smile on my face on a bad day, and help me through everything!

17 May, 2023 17:25

Oh my days that sounds amazing - do you often have these types of events

17 May, 2023 17:25

I didn't expect the amount of support! The work was challenging but very rewarding

17 May, 2023 17:26

Honestly it all sounds amazing and i think exactly how i felt when i went to EY the past 2 times - i think the degree apprenticeship will definitely be hard but it seems 100% worth it

17 May, 2023 17:26

With clients, maybe 1 every 2 years as a junior member of staff, but increasing with seniority, and varying based on clients. However, we do have office wide events yearly. So I went to the horse races with work, and we have a christmas event every year too, where there are bumper cars!

17 May, 2023 17:27

100% - everything you said there is so true! You have to put the work and effort in to pass the exams, but it is totally worth it!

17 May, 2023 17:27

You are so employable at the end of it, and there are so many opportunities and things to make you stay!

17 May, 2023 17:28

Thank you so much for all the insight you have given me - i think this has helped 100% and i feel a lot more confident - the events sounds amazing and so does all the support and mentoring

17 May, 2023 17:28

I'm so glad to hear that! Happy to be of help!

17 May, 2023 17:29