It’s official: school leavers say our apprenticeship is one of the best in the UK and Ireland
The CIMA apprenticeship has launched countless careers in the world of management accounting and beyond. We know how special it is – and now, it’s official. Our apprenticeship programme has been voted the 6th best in the UK and Ireland at the YP Awards 2021, the accolades run by Young Professionals, a leading student network helping school students accelerate their careers.
A record 16,000 school leavers voted for the company they think offers the best work experience and apprenticeship schemes across the UK and Ireland. The CIMA apprenticeship programme placed above big brands including Google, Microsoft, and JP Morgan. You can see the full list of winners on the YP Awards website.
The CIMA apprenticeship is a way to earn Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) status while you work. The programme usually takes around three years – the same as an undergraduate degree. But unlike studying for a degree, apprentices earn a salary, get time off to study and get their CIMA studies funded by their employer.
Apprenticeships are open to anyone over the age of 16 – and they’re not just for school leavers. Graduates and career changers are seizing the opportunity to get paid while they study and, depending on their existing qualifications, can even get exemptions from some of the CIMA modules.
Haider Ali
Haider Ali, Rolls Royce Management Accounting Apprentice and BAME Apprentice of the Year 2020, embarked on the CIMA apprenticeship straight after finishing his A-Levels.
“CIMA has opened my mind to the business world”, says Haider. “I’m learning such a wide range of relevant skills that will tie into any organisation. And because it's a globally-focussed qualification, it's really eye-opening. It’s equipped me really well to tackle working in any company's finance function.”
Haider excelled academically at school but chose to do the CIMA apprenticeship instead of going to university. “A lot of people would say, ‘Oh, you’ve got good grades. Apply to a Russell Group university.’ Or, ‘Why don't you think about Oxford or Cambridge?’”, he recalls. “But I didn’t think that particular learning style was the best for me. And I was sure which career route I wanted to go down. So I thought if there was a quicker, more efficient way to go about it, why not?”
Tafadzwa Zimbango
Tafadzwa Zimbango, meanwhile, started the CIMA apprenticeship having already got an undergraduate and postgraduate degree. He is currently studying towards CIMA whilst working at the NHS on their graduate finance training scheme.
“The apprenticeship normally lasts three years, but I’ve got exemptions from some CIMA exams because of my degree and master’s, so I’m hoping to finish it in just over two years”, he explains. “Once it’s finished, I’ll hopefully stay at the NHS and work in a more senior position.”
Busting any misconceptions that apprenticeships are just for school leavers, Tafadzwa explains:
"Definitely consider an apprenticeship. You get paid about the same as an entry level accounting job and there’s less pressure than trying to complete a professional qualification alongside a full-time job, because you get days off to study – you won’t have to study at the weekend. You also get all the support that you need to finish your qualification and you still move up to a more senior role when you're qualified. With an apprenticeship, the company are investing in you - they're building you for a role within the organization."
