Career opportunities are multiplying for Ross

Ross started as a student at Stockton Riverside College as a school leaver, fresh from GCSEs with a love of maths and a passion to succeed.

He said: “An apprenticeship in accountancy seemed perfect, and when I saw the opportunity for Level 2 Accounts Assistant with Beyond Housing, it seemed like too good an opportunity to pass me by.

“Whilst I was looking for a role I considered a few other companies, but what struck me about Beyond was the progression opportunities and the way they clearly value apprentices as a part of their team, shown in the time and investment they give to each learner.”

Having completed his level 2 qualification, Ross is currently completing his Level 3 Assistant Accountant qualification.

His tutor Janusz Ujczak: “Ross is a very professional, polite and respectful student who consistently demonstrates an excellent attitude both at college and in the workplace. He is focused on his learning and career development and already has a clear idea of where he wants his career to take him and what he would like to achieve in the future.

“His behaviour and commitment have been exemplary throughout his apprenticeship, and it is a genuine pleasure to support and guide a student who is so motivated to develop and succeed.”

Ross says that the main thing he has gained, outside of knowledge and experience, is increased confidence. He explained: “When I left school I wasn’t someone who pushed themselves out of their comfort zone and I didn’t know how the professional world worked – you don’t get taught how to send an email!

“Fast forward to now, and I’m always looking for new opportunities and talking to new people. My apprenticeship has been a key part of this growth, giving me the edge when it comes to future job opportunities. I’ve really liked spending time with different areas within the finance team, figuring out what I enjoy doing the most.”

Maria Taylor, apprentice and volunteer team leader at Beyond Housing explained to us why incorporating apprenticeships into their recruitment model is so vital. She said: “Apprenticeships are such a great way to build a foundation for a career, learning key employability skills such as communication, collaboration, resilience and adaptability alongside the finer skills for the specific role and apprenticeship standard.

“Beyond Housing is committed to fostering an environment to support the development of future talent and continues to champion apprenticeships as a cornerstone of its workforce development strategy, providing young professionals with hands-on experience, expert mentorship, and meaningful career progression opportunities.”

Long term, Ross looks forward to hopefully moving onto Level 4 Professional Accounting Technician at Stockton Riverside College and hasn’t ruled out becoming a chartered accountant in the future.

Apprenticeships build skills and open routes to many different careers, and learners earn while they learn. Whether you’re an employer looking to grow with apprentices, or a learner looking to take the next step in your career, get in touch with the Business Development Unit: business@the-etc.ac.uk

Established in 2018, Beyond Housing provides 15,000 homes and a wide range of services to over 30,000 customers living in the Tees Valley and North Yorkshire.