Flying Start 1 - Birmingham One Chamberlain Square Review
at PwC
Degree Apprenticeship
Accounting
Birmingham
Review Submitted: December 2020
Overall Rating
4.3 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
4/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
I work in the digital audit team at PwC in Birmingham, as an intern in audit. On a day to day I test ITGC's to prepare for reports for private and public clients. These are also used to assist annual audits performed by other teams in the company. I work with people from around the UK in a totally digital team.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I enjoy it, it is the best of both worlds between going to University and working full time. With 4 years at University, including 3 month long placements in the second, third and fourth years. I've enjoyed working full time more than I thought, and would even go as far to say that I'll miss it when going back to University.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have learned how to be confident in communicating with colleagues and clients in a different way to what I am used too. I have also developed my skills in professional software and also consumer software such as excel and google tools. I have also developed my professional scepticism and teamworking skills.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
It has been as well organised as it can be, the placements have gone ahead as close to normal as possible, and so has the University work. I would say that the best has been made of it as it could be in terms of the UK lockdown and working from home.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
There is a lot of support available, I have not found a single coworker who is not available to offer support. We also have career coaches and buddies that are available to talk to at any time. The support has been great.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
We receive a lot of support as we are at university for around two thirds of the year. Support could have been better over lockdown as our module has been entirely online, but it will have been hard to run seeing as we are working from home, and working from all around the country, not just in the office.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
We learn many useful skills from the qualification that have helped. I would say that on the job training has been much more helpful in my development though, as I have learnt a lot more on the job than I did in my first year of University.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
We have quizzes and social calls weekly, and there are professional networking events quite often. A lot of talks are also ran on a variety of subjects every week. I am also sure that during a normal working environment there are sports teams, but I have not heard anything about them during lockdown.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend PwC to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I feel surrounded by driven, hard working people who each want the best for each other and want to drive each other to release quality work. I also feel supported in my own goals, my personal development and my growth through the company.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to PwC?
Make sure you research the company thoroughly and try to prepare for team working exercises and interviews. Also be open minded to whatever you are asked to do as part of your interview and assessment days.
