Hi, I'm Sophia.
Apprentice Human Capital, London
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My journey so far…
I’m from Bristol, where I grew up with my parents and siblings. My mum emigrated from Pakistan when she was young, and my dad was born in Bristol like me, but his family are originally from Jamaica. I went to a huge primary school in a predominantly white area, which came with certain challenges. I’m mixed race with a mixed religious background, and I found it hard to navigate what I wanted and who I was. I later went to a more diverse high school, which was really good for me. Meeting people from different backgrounds helped me to discover more about my own culture. I was also a goody two shoes who loved learning. Although I’d always assumed I’d go to university, I couldn’t find a course that felt like the right fit for me. I took a year out to work in admin, and that’s when I discovered apprenticeships through social media. I started a year-long level 3 apprenticeship with an engineering firm and loved it. When the chance to apply for a degree apprenticeship with Deloitte came up I jumped at the chance. I loved learning and working at the same time.
Work that matters
In my team we help a variety of organisations to deliver business transformation programmes across a number of areas. For example, supporting a client to implement a complex new tech programme, so they can run their business more effectively. During my apprenticeship, I’ve been doing lots of training in areas such as budget support, as well as gaining technical qualifications in project management. At the same time, I’m developing skills in communication, presentation and working with clients.
As an apprentice I have a strong support system in place to help me develop. You get a buddy before you even join, which was especially helpful because I was moving to a different city. I also have managers to go to for help, as well as early careers specialists in learning and development. We also get skill booster sessions, as well as specific tutors and coaches for university as well.
Outside of my main role I’ve joined the Black Network and found the events useful so far. It’s really nice seeing people who look like me who are successful in the workplace.
Highlights from my week
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I work from home today. In the morning I catch up with my client team to set the objectives and focuses for the week. We’re currently working on a big transformation project for a public sector client. | I head to the gym early in the morning, before having an online check in with my BrightStart cohort. During lunch I head out for a walk before finalising a PowerPoint deck for a client in the afternoon. | I go in for a team office day, where we book a meeting room out and talk through what we’re working on and the projects we’re trying to deliver. This helps us to work out any blockers we have. | I go to the office to meet up with all the other analysts. We all go for lunch together, as well as a run after work. I also meet with my buddy and my people lead. | Today is my university day! Our university cohort is very small (around 11 Deloitte apprentices), so it is really nice to connect with them as I don’t get to see them in the office very frequently. In the evening I go out with friends. |
My weekend looks like
I love musical theatre and my favourite show is Hamilton. I also keep fit by going to the gym and running clubs, as well as lifting weights. It’s a great way to get some alone time and clear my head. Since moving to London I’ve built up a great network with fellow apprentices, both inside and outside Deloitte. I try to meet up with these new friends a lot, going for brunches and dinners. The weekend is also a chance to catch up on sleep and household chores.
3 things I've learned
Enjoy the journey
I’m at the start of my career and it can feel easy to compare yourself to the grades above you. In reality it’s a great opportunity to learn from a diverse range of people as you carve out your own path.
Speak up
Since joining Deloitte I’ve realised that every idea is important, regardless of whether or not it gets used in the end. It’s all part of the development process, so it’s important to have your say.
Enjoy your weekends and evenings
When I started, I wanted to be strict about my working hours and make sure I didn’t overcommit. This is still a work in progress, but I’ve really learnt to enjoy making the most of my free time.
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Sophia's podcast recommendation
Working hard or hardly working
This podcast is run by Grace Beverely, who went to the University of Oxford. She created a gym clothing brand for women, and she speaks about her business and the challenges associated with it. She focuses on how to become more productive as a leader, and interviews lots of different CEOs about how they developed and grew in their own careers. It’s really inspiring for someone starting out!
