Flying Start Degree Programme - Placement 2 (Bristol) Review
at PwC
Degree Apprenticeship
Accounting
Bristol
Review Submitted: December 2021
Overall Rating
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!
3/5
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Overview of Role
3/5
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Skills Development
2.8/5
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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
Working as a team with other members of the firm (whether virtually or in-person, and often coming from different offices) to complete audit work for a client. As a new joiner I often receive a lot of coaching from my seniors daily, and due to the pandemic we make use of Google Hangouts and Google Chats to do this.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
2/5
I do enjoy the programme since I believe it is an amazing opportunity to kick-start your career if this industry is one that you would like to go into in the future. Even if you do not, I believe that the placement experience is extremely valuable and that I have learnt a lot of soft-skills from placement.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
3/5
I believe that I have learnt to develop my listening skills and my questioning skills - I have found that on this placement compared to my previous that I have been more pro-active in asking relevant questions and that I am beginning to question how the work I perform contributes to the overall audit.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
From the placement side I believe it is very organised - we always have support and contacts to go to whenever we need help and they have always responded to queries very quickly. I feel that the university could sometimes be more communicative with us students (especially around resit examinations and during placement).
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
I receive a lot of support during my time on placement, and I feel that every problem or issue that I have had so far has been resolved in a timely manner. Whenever I have had questions about placement I would always receive a resolution and this has made the overall placement experience very good.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
1/5
I feel that the university does give us support and do answer our questions, but that during placement there is little to no communication between us on placement and the university which makes it feel like there is a lack of support coming from the university which makes it feel somewhat daunting returning to university.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
I think that it gives a good background or somewhat of a foundation to prepare us for the placement experience. If I had not been studying any accounting topics in university I doubt that placement would be this same experience; although sometimes during placement I feel way out of my depth and like I know nothing, at least I am familiar with the words that are thrown around when I receive coaching from my seniors.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
There have been some activities that are trying to be arranged for when the Covid-19 pandemic is not as serious, but due to the new variant becoming a dominant Covid-19, I think that these activities are being postponed to a later date probably in the next year. Since I am only on placement for 3 months or so at a time (and all having been during the pandemic) I am not sure.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend PwC to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I think it is a great working environment for growth, somewhere where you will be fully supported and a great place to work with clear career progression opportunities. The people you meet are inspiring and often give really great advice, and everyone is just so friendly that it feels like you are welcome there.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to PwC?
That almost everyone has been in the same boat as you at some point or another, and that there really is no silly question to ask - everyone is willing to help so just be pro-active and reach out to people for coaching. It is a great place to develop your skills.
