Cingee Ip

Cingee Ip, 18, St. Annes Trainee Accountant at Whittles Accountants, St. Annes Attended: Lytham St. Annes High Learning provider: Preston College Business Services Qualifications: 10 GCSEs grades A-C NVQ 2 in Accountancy Apprenticeship : Association of Accounting Technicians – started 24/02/04	How did you find out about the Apprenticeship programme? I started by looking for the job that I wanted. When I started here my boss suggested that I went on an Apprenticeship programme. Why an Apprenticeship? I’m doing my Apprenticeship with Blackpool and the Fylde College. Although I had left school to get a job, I still wanted to continue learning, but in a hands-on environment. A Day in the Life I spend one day a week at college and the other four at work. I start the day at 9 am and spend my time bookkeeping as part of a team. I finish work at 5 pm, but have to work in the evenings if I have an exam coming up. What Skills have you learnt? Doing an Apprenticeship in accountancy has really helped me to do well at work because it is teaching me everything I need to know about the job. But as well as how to do things like bookkeeping, I am learning communication skills such as how to deal with clients. Best bit I enjoy the work; it’s very satisfying. The best bit is when I work something out or reach the end of a job, which I’ve done well. Worst bit The hardest thing about the job is that you have to learn how to deal with lots of clients. Every query is different, but it makes the job interesting!	Ambition/Future Career Plan I want to carry on working as an accountant. I am working towards being fully qualified as a chartered accountant. My Apprenticeship finishes in one year’s time and I should be fully qualified in four. What do you think of the Apprenticeship programme? Without this Apprenticeship I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing. This is the best way into the job that I want to do. It means I can do my studying at home and can interact with other people who are doing the same as me. I can work whilst getting weekly tuition from people with lots of knowledge and expertise. If I didn’t get that I don’t think the people in the workplace would have the same amount of time to teach me. I have no regrets about doing an Apprenticeship. Her Employer says (Rose Andrews – a partner in Whittles Accountants) Cingee settled in very quickly and is a valued member of our team of nine staff. She is the only Apprentice on the team and seems to be enjoying her Apprenticeship. I think this is because her practical work and exam training complement each other well.

How did you find out about the Apprenticeship programme?

I started by looking for the job that I wanted. When I started here my boss suggested that I went on an Apprenticeship programme.

Why an Apprenticeship?

I’m doing my Apprenticeship with Blackpool and the Fylde College. Although I had left school to get a job, I still wanted to continue learning, but in a hands-on environment.

A Day in the Life

I spend one day a week at college and the other four at work. I start the day at 9 am and spend my time bookkeeping as part of a team. I finish work at 5 pm, but have to work in the evenings if I have an exam coming up.

What Skills have you learnt?

Doing an Apprenticeship in accountancy has really helped me to do well at work because it is teaching me everything I need to know about the job. But as well as how to do things like bookkeeping, I am learning communication skills such as how to deal with clients.

Best bit

I enjoy the work; it’s very satisfying. The best bit is when I work something out or reach the end of a job, which I’ve done well.

Worst bit

The hardest thing about the job is that you have to learn how to deal with lots of clients. Every query is different, but it makes the job interesting!