KPMG apprentice programme instead of university?

[Apprenticeoruni]

My daughter is thinking of skipping university and going straight to work, specifically targeting KPMG’s apprenticeship as she wants a career in finance so thinks this will lead her to the same place but in less time without student debt. It sounds sensible but I can’t help but think the university experience, even the social and living side, is invaluable for later life and that she’d regret missing those years later in life. I also have friends who have worked at KPMG, but a long time ago, and they worked really hard so I’m worried she’d be sacrificing her best years just to get ahead. I’d really love to hear from anyone whose child has made the same decision-whether good or bad- to help me understand what it’s really like and if the benefits outweigh my concerns! So AIBU to support her decision without challenge or should I gently nudge in the direction of university?

That’s true. A friends son couldn’t get a graduate job and tried fur over six months. He ended up with a school leavers apprenticeship, and only got that through a friend-of-a-friend’s recommendation situation.

I've hired both grads and people who went straight into work and in pretty much ever case the ones who went straight to work are more mature, focused and capable of looking after themselves. If she can get the apprenticeship, and it's what she wants to do, support it. KPMG is low scoring for employee satisfaction (3.7 on Glassdoor) but it looks good on a resume and she will learn a lot. They are all much of a muchness (EY for example is 3.8).

Several of DS’ friends have taken this route and, yes they’re going to be very high earners. That said, I’d advise thinking long and hard about the particular specialism because some finance roles will disappear with AI in the very near future.

My daughter has been accepted onto the KPMG Audit apprenticeship and starts in October.
The application and interview process was brutal, and involved a lot more than just filling in UCAS forms, it was almost like applying for apprenticeships became like another a-level
subject.
All her friends are heading off to uni and she is very aware that she won’t get the long holidays which is probably the main downside for her. However she has done loads of travelling this summer, and can’t wait to start.
She has been to several KPMG events and met current and past apprentices, and she has loved the vibe so far.
I was also initially worried about her missing out on the uni life, but I went to uni when it was free and was as much about the lifestyle as the studying. Nowadays kids are paying a fortune to be there and actually work hard and play less!
I would have been happy for her either way, but I am actually insanely proud that she managed to get a place on the apprenticeship because it’s not easy.

I don’t have experience with the apprenticeship path but FWIW I have several friends work for KPMG, have done for many years and thoroughly enjoy it, have a great social life with colleagues etc. Some of them have taken secondments to other locations over the years so enjoyed the experience of travelling and living in other countries without the risk of packing in a job to do it. I’m sure it all differs location to location but I’d go in with an open mind. Sounds like a great opportunity for her.

Hi, I’m current Big4 and have responsibility for both our graduates and apprentices. I am also a mother and would wholeheartedly recommend the higher level apprenticeships to my son if he were interested. Aside from being debt free, your child will have access to a potentially one of the best pensions schemes a private employer offers (ours matches up to 8%), they have 3+ years extra Big4 on their CV compared to peers and they have the potential to get further qualifications funded.

Our apprentices absolutely have the uni experience and given the budgets for some firm activities/social events, sometimes it’s even better. Couple that with opportunities to travel for work & take sabbaticals for personal development / travel etc. it becomes something of a no brainer.

To balance my response I would caution that we have seen varying success with our apprentices, it very much depends on the type of person they are. More mature apprentices definitely do better, along with those confident enough to articulate needs, risks, and issues

This. Adding that as a (agency side) recruiter of Chartered Accountants,and indeed as someone who ran the first A-level apprentice scheme for Restructuring at EY around 20+ years ago (yes they've been going at least that long!) I am full of admiration for those that know themselves well enough to take that route. But she'll need some coaching in Competency Based Interviewing - it's a critical tool in the Big 4 selection process. If you're a CA you're a CA - and if you're that at 22 when the grads are only in Y1 of training,good on you. All the very best to your daughter, whatever route she decides x

@Itsnearlymidnight, where is your daughter going to be based and which section is she going into? Happy for my DD to reach out if she has any questions.

Working for the big 4 is HARD in your twenties. Everyone has a breakdown at some point. Crying on the job or in the toilets is unfortunately quite normal.
However, once you make it through and get to a high enough position you’ll be laughing in your thirties and making a lot of money.
Is she emotionally resilient? Thick skinned? Determined? Hard working? Then she should be fine.

Do it. They don’t have the same Uni experience as they did in the 90s anyway….

Is there any reason she is so focused on KPMG? Is it because a local office runs the scheme? Just asking as schemes are very competitive and she might be better off applying for a few firms schemes than focusing on one which will be a long shot, and allocation processes can be quite random. A friends daughter dropped out of Uni after a year and is now in her second year of a KPMG apprenticeship and really enjoying it.

I am an accountant but left practice a long time ago, all the young people had fun in my day, and from what I can tell from my younger hires still do today.

I think that £30k fees plus many more thousands in living expenses is a hell of a lot of debt for an experience. Not everyone likes uni either, so you can't guarantee that she will get the same joy from it as you did. I think the apprenticeship is a great idea.

Definitely this route.