Congratulations to Year 2 A-level Economics students Ollie, Tasha, and Lucy, who have secured coveted apprenticeship positions with St James’s Place Wealth Management.
Tasha, who also studies A-level Maths and French, will be starting an Accounting apprenticeship which focuses on the AAT Level 4 qualification, with the potential to become a fully qualified accountant and complete the Level 7 ACCA qualification which is the equivalent to a master’s degree.
Tasha said “I applied for an apprenticeship to secure real knowledge of the workplace and gain a qualification alongside this. I felt that the interview process was very engaging, SJP made sure everyone was comfortable and relaxed, and it made it much more fun as it felt like the interviewers were really trying to find out who we are as a person, not just what we know. Once I found out I had been successful I was ecstatic, it felt so fulfilling to know that my hard work had paid off! My advice to students who might be considering an apprenticeship after college is to literally just go for it! You have absolutely nothing to lose by applying, feel the fear and do it anyway!”
Ollie, also studying A-level Politics and Law, is looking forward to starting his apprenticeship in Finance.
Ollie said “When I received my offer, I was over the moon. It felt like a huge weight off my shoulders, particularly landing my first choice. I applied for an apprenticeship because the idea of working and learning on the job at a large multinational firm like SJP appealed to me, and I learn better when putting skills into practice. I will be studying towards my AAT qualification on the way to becoming an accountant. My advice to anyone considering an apprenticeship would be to get yourself out there! The interview can be daunting, just be assured they don’t expect perfection, and so long as you are authentic and back yourself, you’ll do great!”
Lucy has secured an apprenticeship in Internal Audit and will also be working towards the ACCA Level 7 qualification.
Lucy, who also studies A-level Maths and Biology, said “An apprenticeship stood out to me because I want to start building real industry experience as early as possible. Once I found out I was successful, I was both excited and grateful for the opportunity as it would allow me to develop professionally while working towards a highly respected qualification! My advice to anyone looking for an apprenticeship would be to be yourself throughout the entire interview process. Link questions to real-life examples to make your responses more personable and memorable. Finally, always believe in yourself and take on any opportunity that may come your way!”
Amanda Brookes, Course Team Leader for Economics, said “We are proud that three of the total 14 SJP apprenticeship places for 2026 have been given to our students. All three are fantastic students and deserving of the opportunity. I am looking forward to following their careers and sharing their successes with our future students!”
We wish Tasha, Ollie, and Lucy the best of luck with their apprenticeships.
For more information on this story, please contact chloe.suter@cirencester.ac.uk
