Apprentice Week 2021: Building the Future

For the 14^th annual National Apprentice Week, we are celebrating apprenticeships and how they “Build the Future”. This week gives us a chance to reflect on the positive impact apprenticeships continue to have, whilst highlighting some of the motivating stories from our people across the business. We spoke to Samantha Glaister, Tax Incentives and Reliefs Apprentice, about her apprenticeship experience while working with our Newcastle team.

Why did you choose accountancy as a career?

When it came to looking at career options I knew I’d like to pursue something that involved maths. I had originally dismissed the idea of accountancy as I had the preconception that it would be boring. However, I was introduced to Haines Watts when my dad helped redesign their new office. I was pleasantly surprised at how different they were and it inspired me to reconsider the career. After some more research into accountancy, I decided that it would be a perfect fit for my skillset and interests. I also liked the idea of getting experience while I studied, so an apprenticeship made more sense than university.

What made you choose Haines Watts?

It was the culture of the business that really attracted me. Although everyone is professional, you can be yourself as Haines Watts values authenticity. This filters through into how people act and work, making it a fun environment to be in. As it was Haines Watts that made want to pursue accounting, it was an obvious choice for me when applying for an apprenticeship.

What is the best part of your job?

My favourite part of the role is getting out of the office and speaking to clients. We meet lots of different types of people and get to know a wide variety of businesses. This keeps things interesting and means no two days are the same. I’ve always loved design, so working with architecture clients has been a really fascinating experience.

What are your future plans?

I want to complete all of my exams and work my way up the career ladder. I’m hoping to focus on tax as an area of specialism as I’ve really enjoyed working with research and development claims. I’ve also really enjoyed working with our museum and gallery clients so I’d love to develop these professional relationships further.

What is your advice to anyone considering an apprenticeship?

My advice would be to find a company that fits your values and you’ll be fine. An apprenticeship is a great route to take because learning on the job, with the right team around you, is a really rewarding way to train. By gaining experience alongside your qualifications, you will get a deeper understanding of the theory and it’s easier to apply to real life situations.