Graduate Tax Trainee Review
at Old Mill
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Tax
Yeovil
Review Submitted: May 2025
Overall Rating
4.1 /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!
3.5/5
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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 private client team preparing personal tax returns, ATED returns and P11d compliance documents. I have been given my own client portfolio of 160 clients for my personal tax work for 24/25 and this will involve comprehensively meeting the clients tax needs and being their main point of contact at Old Mill.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
The programme is quite demanding but Old Mill are generally quite patient with apprentices relative to other firms based upon conversations with other students on the programme. Old Mill encourage a good life work balance and are understanding when circumstances change or when an exam fail occurs for example. So whilst the programme is difficult, Old Mill does a lot to facilitate for individual needs of their apprentices.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
This role and the training involved has given me a great deal of development through skills days and practical training at work. I have developed my communication skills by working with numerous different clients and this has also gone a long way to improving my confidence when communicating with clients. I have also continued developing my technical skillset as I had not previously studied tax in any capacity.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
The programme is very well laid out to apprentices right at the start of the journey, I have a study planner from three years ago which I can still refer to now and has great accuracy in showing me how far i've come and what parts of the journey still remain.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
My employer is supportive towards its apprentices including me, i've had great line management from my line manager who has been very understanding and patient with me which naturally makes you want to reward them with hard work and dedication. Generally Old Mill is generous with covering study expenses and understanding when exam fails occur which makes you feel supported throughout the journey.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
My training provider does try to make you feel supported throughout your journey and they have check ins at regular intervals. However, sometimes it does feel that they put slightly unnecessary pressure on you alongside your study program and workload when actually at work. They do assign you a coach which is helpful as you only have one point of contact and you can build a beneficial relationship over the period of the apprenticeship.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
I think the qualifications I am doing are very relevant especially when I come from a background where i've not studied tax before. I think ATT is really important content for my role as a compliance orientated tax trainee and I am pleased Old Mill supported me to a point where I have attained membership. CTA is also useful for my role and i've enjoyed learning the content but its a lot more advisory orientated so possibly not entirely necessary for me.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
Old Mill is always putting on events for the staff which is great. We have summer skittles tournaments in our office as well as a run club and at Christmas and Easter they always treat their staff to small tokens of appreciation which makes everyone feel valued. In addition, I wanted to start a 6 a side team from the Yeovil office that would be under the Old Mill name and the firm were very happy to purchase us football kits for this.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Old Mill to a friend?
Yes
Why?
The working atmosphere is the most important thing about Old Mill and the company prides itself on having a lovely to work with ethos and this generally reflected across the firm no matter what role or level of seniority. The pathway I am on itself is quite tough and gruelling so I would not necessary recommend this to a graduate who's already been studying for the best part of 10 years, but in other scenarios Old Mill certainly exceeds in looking after its staff and creating a nourishing working atmosphere for young people looking to kickstart their professional careers.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Old Mill?
I would suggest just being yourself, Old Mill wants genuinely lovely people with a drive to work hard and forge themselves a career. It's not necessarily about getting the most technically skilled individuals but someone who is willing to learn and can provide great, friendly, client service along the way.
