Graduate Finance Apprentice Review
at Barnsley Council
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Finance
Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Review Submitted: April 2025
Overall Rating
4.8 /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!
5/5
-
Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
4.6/5
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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:
5/5
Currently working as part of Free School Meals and Council Tax Support (FSMCTS) Team at Barnsley Council, helping to administer these benefits. Some generic admin duties also form a part of my role (indexing emails, generating benefit reviews, customer callbacks etc).
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
So far, I have enjoyed the programme greatly! My coworkers have been extremely welcoming and helpful, and the apprenticeship qualification thus far has been very interesting in terms of subjects covered (mainly relates to how Council Tax is administered).
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Further developed teamworking skills, learnt use of Academy software specific to administration of benefits such as FSM and CTS, developed communication skills through regular callbacks for customers that need help to fill out online forms.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
The programme has been well structured. With regards to the qualification itself, there is a dedicated website (Aptem) that displays one's learning plan, key task information, detailed notes on learning topics; the site makes it very clear what work has been completed and what is coming up.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
The support I have received thus far has been more than sufficient; my line manager has provided consistent feedback and encouragement in both my daily working life, as well as in our monthly one-to-one meetings.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
I have received a great amount of support from the training provider. Apart from a series of initial lectures to prepare me to tackle the first module's tasks, my tutor has also provided support through feedback on work submitted, as well as through regular meetings.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
Thus far, I would say that the qualification has given me an overall better understanding of Council Tax and its administration. While this is not yet directly tied with my work, I would still count it as very useful information to have.
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
While I'm sure there are events like these, I haven't really had these promoted to me.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Barnsley Council to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Very friendly and supportive working environment.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Barnsley Council?
Research the council's core values and projects well, share enthusiasm for why you wish to work in local govt.
