BrightStart Apprenticeships are designed for people who’ve completed their A-Levels, but don’t want to take the traditional university route. You can work in lots of different business areas, and all the programmes involve learning on the job, while you study for fully-funded qualifications. The apprenticeships can take up to six years to complete, depending which area you go into. During that time, you’ll gain qualifications in your chosen area and develop the skills you need to succeed in that line of business. There’s also lots of opportunities for development and promotion within Deloitte, both during and after your studies.

I used to live in the Middle East and when I arrived back to the UK I had to wait for a couple of years before I was eligible to apply for student loans. I wanted to be a solicitor, so I used the time to do my A-Levels and get work experience in other areas. I then learnt about apprenticeships and realised that I could become a solicitor without the getting into debt. As well as getting my qualifications fully funded, I also realised I’d have the opportunity to get a wealth of work experience too, which would put me a few steps ahead. I soon decided that an apprenticeship was a much better fit for me than the traditional university route.

I found out about my apprenticeship on social media. They’re becoming much more popular and apps like LinkedIn and TikTok have lots of information for students. You can also use social media to connect with people who are already doing apprenticeships, to find out if it might be the right fit for you. I recommend having a look out for mentorship opportunities and apprenticeship networks too. For example, I run a project called mylaunchpad, which aims to get people from low socioeconomic backgrounds into solicitor apprenticeships. We have 40 mentees who are aspiring legal apprentices right now, as well as people who are still in school and considering their future options. Another great way to learn more is to join events. Deloitte regularly runs sessions for school leavers and students, both online and in-person, to help young people get a taste of the firm.

You need to research the firm and the business area, as well as the overall values of the firm. Ultimately it’s your personality that will set you apart, so it’s really important to be yourself. Coming to such a big firm straight out of school can be intimidating, so recruiters are looking for people who can demonstrate resilience and adaptability. Nobody expects you to come in with experience, but you’ll need to show curiosity and a willingness to learn. Sometimes people say what they think recruiters want to hear, but your authenticity is what will help you to succeed.

Apprenticeships are a brilliant way to get qualifications, but it’s very hard work to manage studying alongside a fulltime job. It’s a marathon not a sprint, so you need to accept that you won’t get overnight results. It’s important to have a positive mindset and to celebrate all your wins at work, because this will help you build confidence. Deloitte encourages you to prioritise your mental health in the workplace, so you can always speak to managers if you find your workload is getting too much. When I first started I wanted to do everything perfectly, but I’ve learned the importance of transparency and being honest if I need help. Depending which apprenticeship you take, you’ll likely have some days off for studying, which is also great to manage the balance between work and study.