Ross Flanigan, Director, tells us why he is a big advocate of our Cardiff Apprenticeship scheme.
Just a few months ago, after many more months of effort and planning and interviewing, I was so pleased to see the first group of ten Business Administration apprentices join our teams.
The timing was great because they joined our business just as our training partner 'Cardiff and Vale College' opened their new and amazing city centre campus. We were all finding our way with this first group. The idea of apprentices was new to us, the college was building credentials, and the apprentices, well, they just had the small matter of setting out on their careers to think about.
Would it work? We didn't know!! But I've got to say, it has been an exceptional success so far, and that's mainly down to the apprentices themselves. Yes our Firm, our managers and the mentors have really made an effort. Yes, the college has pulled out all the stops. But we have been really amazed by the attitude, ability and commitment of the apprentices who are working in five different parts of our business.
They have no preconceptions and no fear. They've shown that when (with just a little trepidation) we put them in for a free chat with our CEO along with the Wales First Minister and his entourage.
So they've picked up the work, they're volunteering for more, they are looking for their next career step with us, they are passing the academic bits and they are even helping more recent recruits settle in. I think the term used is 'exceeding expectations'.
As it's all going so well, we had a chance to bring everyone in the programme together for a low-key celebration just recently when apprentices, managers, mentors and our friends from the college had dinner together at the incredible rooftop restaurant 'The Classroom' in the new college campus. That restaurant is a candidate for best in the city if you ask me. But why ask me? A little apprentice-type blogging will probably say much more.
Brandon Edwards, KYC Analyst in Forensic, Financial Advisory, went along to the dinner. Check out his account of the evening here:
"The food was exquisite, staff delivered a first class service and the atmosphere was very relaxed. Thanks to this event, I was able to network with people that I had never met before as well as build up stronger relationships with people that I vaguely knew.
Every person that I met, no matter how high up in the company, was very welcoming, forthcoming and available for me to talk to if I had questions to ask on any topic at all. I made great personal connections with many different people who I'm pleased to say have now become friends.
I am very grateful to be involved in this event and hope that there are more events to come which will enable me to get more involved and meet more great people."
P.S. For those of you who don't know the meaning of the finger point, it means that Deloitte are number one!
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