Alumni Stories

What have you been doing since leaving Tring school, and what made you choose this path? 

Upon leaving Tring school I joined Ernst & Young LLP (EY) on a Level 7 Accountancy Apprenticeship based in London. I  am working in the Audit service line at EY with my biggest client being Amazon. Meanwhile I study towards achieving my ACA with ICAEW meaning I will be a chartered accountant.  There is a total of 14 exams, of which I have sat and passed 8.  I have also progressed through 2 stages of promotions to become a senior associate.  I chose this path as I believed I was ready to kick-start my professional career and to earn a good salary. 

What is a typical day or week like for you now?

In the practice of audit there never seems to be a typical week due to the nature of fluctuating demand throughout the year.  However, most commonly I will be commuting to London for 2 or 3 days of the week to one of EY’s offices, London Bridge/ Canary Wharf or visiting Amazons office to attend meetings with the client.  On the other days I am able to work from home. 

What skills or experiences did you gain at Tring school that have been most useful to you since leaving?

The key skills I gained whilst at Tring school was the ability to communicate my ideas through collaborative learning in lessons.  Aswell as the fundamental skills to manage my time while having the freedom of study periods while in sixth form.  Both skills have assisted me in growing into my professional role at EY.  

What advice would you give to a student who is currently thinking about what to do after school?

The most important piece of advice I can give  is to make the conscious effort to be honest with yourself as to where you are at in your personal development.  With that, decide how you can best move forward in the coming years.  For example, if you believe you are ready and eager to enter a profession and to earn money, this mindset would lend itself to an apprenticeship.   On the other hand, you may feel you want to develop your knowledge of a subject/ industry further and explore careers in which case university may be a better choice. 

What have you been doing since leaving Tring school, and what made you choose this path?

I am a degree apprentice at UBS, within their Wealth Management position.  I knew I wanted a corporate career and to gain qualifications, but I didn’t want to spend another 4 years in a classroom setting, I prefer to learn as I go. 

What is a typical day or week like for you now?

I am a client account manager, meaning I do all the day to day management of our client’s investment portfolios. This varies hugely each day, but includes making trades, monitoring performance, keeping on top of admin, and helping the investment advisors prep for larger deals. 

What skills or experiences did you gain at Tring school that have been most useful to you since leaving?

My time at Tring taught me so many soft skills that I use today.  Learning how to juggle revision schedules and stay disciplined during free periods really enhanced my time management skills. 

But what really helped was the support of individual teachers who went above and beyond, supporting me emotionally and practically through mock interviews and real encouragement to pursue the path I wanted to. 

What advice would you give to a student who is currently thinking about what to do after school?

Don't feel rushed or pressured into any decision - take the time to think about what you really want to do, rather than just doing what you think is expected of you.  Talk to the sixth form team and your teachers about your goals, and gather as much advice as you can.