MHA Tait Walker wealth management apprentices have come together to share their stories of success during National Apprenticeships Week 2020.
The wealth management team at the North East based accountancy and advisory firm currently has three young apprentices who are studying alongside their day-to-day duties. They include Dom Hall and Jessica Maneely, who have seized every opportunity to learn about the professional services sector.
Former apprentice Hannah Gill, (24), has gone on to secure a permanent job with the firm.
Hannah started her career with MHA Tait Walker seven years ago within its 29-strong wealth management team. She began a paraplanner apprenticeship which was funded by the business. During this time, she assisted the financial planners with researching, analysing and preparing financial reports for clients.
Hannah consciously chose the apprenticeship as the best route because she really enjoyed maths and wanted to learn more about wealth management.
She said: “Before joining MHA Tait Walker, I was at Newcastle College where I’d been looking for an apprenticeship. I was studying history and English A-levels.
“When I took the role, I was ready to learn new skills and I have been able to really develop here and build on my portfolio in the past year. The apprenticeship set me up really well for what I do on a daily basis. I am really lucky to work with a great team of people who are passionate about what they do and I have been able to pick their brains to further my own knowledge.”
Hannah’s apprenticeship was undertaken with Kaplan which saw her study there once a month. She was also able to take time out to go on a five-week charity mission in Thailand during this time. She thanked those within the business who have supported her in the workplace.
She said: “It’s great that the company has chosen to invest in its employees and that I can learn on the job too. The job is really interesting and there’s always new things to learn from. I’d encourage anyone to think about studying for an apprenticeship in this way.”
Since they started at MHA Tait Walker, the apprentices have all quickly taken responsibility within the wealth management team for everything from scanning and assigning post to advisers to chasing and reconciling banking and writing and issuing policy documents.
Jessica Maneely, 17, is the firm’s newest recruit, having started in July 2019. As a wealth support apprentice, she is currently working towards her Level 3 Business Administration qualification.
She said: “I chose to become a part of MHA Tait Walker because I knew it was a growing organisation that could contribute considerably to my personal growth. I wanted to start my professional career somewhere I knew would help me succeed.
“Since joining the firm, I have learnt more than I ever thought. Not only about the industry but about myself too. I have gained a lot of experience whilst working here. I am a member of the graduate/apprenticeship group and this comes with the responsibility of organising fun events where the whole firm get together.
“This has helped develop my time management and communication skills. By working alongside both the advisers and support team, I have learnt the value of teamwork and how important it is to work together. In the next five years, with the help of MHA Tait Walker, I hope to be working towards becoming a diploma qualified para-planner with the aim of becoming chartered in the future.”
Sarah Gilby, a senior manager in the Wealth Management team at MHA Tait Walker, said: “We are delighted to invest in apprenticeships and actively support members of the team on their chosen career path. Their passion for the job and desire to learn has enabled them all to build trust within the business and with our growing customer base too. They have all been really committed to personal development and training and we hope that they continue to inspire others and pass on their experience.”
Mark Parkinson, Wealth Management Partner at MHA Tait Walker, said: “Since starting at MHA Tait Walker, our apprentices have made considerable progress and they are a great asset to our firm. Their willingness to go the extra mile is second-to-none. We will definitely be looking to taking on an additional apprentice this year.”