Amaya Reid

Before Covid hit I was studying biology, English literature and Spanish, not really enjoying it or knowing what I wanted to do. Then we went into lockdown and I had a re-think.

I decided to go to St Brendan’s instead and study law, accounting and politics – I really liked it and when the opportunity came up to become an accountancy apprentice it seemed the ideal fit for me.
My dad’s got his own building company and he can’t stand doing the admin or the books so I helped him out a bit, which I think was when I realised it might be a career for me. Also, I’ve experienced first-hand the need that small business owners have in terms of outsourcing business functions.

Since I’ve been at Haines Watts, I’ve been out to visit a timber business client already, alongside one of my senior colleagues, and it was a really good experience.

That’s something I’m really interested in, getting out to meet clients and talking about the challenges they have, the plans they have for business growth and discussing how expert advice can help.
Do I regret not experiencing the social life that three years at university has to offer? Not really. I’ve grown quite close to the other apprentices who joined Haines Watts at the same time as me. We go out together, there’s plenty to do in Bristol and the social life at the office is quite good, too.
And I certainly don’t regret burdening myself with three years of student debt! Without it, I’m free to get on with what I want to do. I’m hoping to have bought somewhere to live within the next two years – probably a flat, which I’ll live in for a couple of years then save up another deposit, buy another house and rent out the flat for some extra income.

That’s the plan anyway – we’ll see how it goes. But I think if you want anything in life and are prepared to work for it, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
I feel like I’m appreciated at Haines Watts. And I realise that if I work hard then I can work my way up the ladder.

To other people who are at school or college, I’d say that I know apprenticeships have a stigma and that there’s a narrative which suggests that everyone should go to uni. But I think people should see what a great opportunity an apprenticeship is, to get on in professional life quickly and get rewarded with good pay and responsibility from an early age. If you know what you want to do with your career, you should seriously consider it.