We sat down with Russell Ward, Virtual Finance Apprentice, to find out his experience of being an apprentice at Mercer & Hole. He spoke to us about learning on the job, responsibility, confidence, and why apprenticeships matter.

So, what made you choose an apprenticeship?

Honestly, the chance to earn straight away and the lack of debt was a huge factor. It really stood out to me. For me, it really felt like the only choice that made sense.

What’s something people often misunderstand about apprentices?

A lot of people think apprentices just get “hand‑me‑down” tasks, or “busywork”, but that’s not true. We work on wider, proper projects – the same ones managers work on – and we contribute to decisions that genuinely matter. It surprises people sometimes that we work on things that will be sent to HMRC, but we really are involved in real work for clients right from the start.

It sounds intense. Is it challenging?

Definitely challenging – but also really rewarding. You’re learning constantly, and that’s what makes it worth it.

How do you balance work and study?

It’s a big one. I block out dedicated study time, either after work or during allocated study hours. Communication is key – I speak to my manager if my workload gets too much. You have to learn a bit of self-discipline as you go, otherwise everything piles up and it becomes much harder to get through.

What support do you receive as an apprentice?

So much support. My managers are always available if I’m stuck. We also have dedicated buddies who are a year ahead, which is amazing because they’ve literally just been through what you’re doing, so they know what it’s like. You can ask them absolutely anything. And of course, having senior mentors who’ve been in the game for years really helps you make big strides.

Describe your apprenticeship experience in one word.

Rewarding. Definitely rewarding. Passing exams while doing real work gives you such a tangible sense of achievement.

Why do you think someone should choose an apprenticeship?

You get hands‑on experience from day one. Apprenticeships throw you into real work straight away, which you just don’t get from uni. And you still gain the same qualifications – in fact, if you study accountancy at university, you still have to do the professional qualifications afterwards. So, apprenticeships just make sense.

What do apprenticeships give you that university doesn’t?

Soft skills. Confidence. Real‑world experience. You learn how to speak to clients, handle issues, and work with people. You don’t get that from lectures.

What do you wish you’d known before starting?

How much responsibility you’re given immediately – in a good way. You’re trusted with real work that matters. For example, I submit files to HMRC. My name’s on them. That pushes you to take pride in what you’re doing and grow quickly.

What has been your biggest learning curve so far?

Prioritising tasks. At school, you can more or less get away with leaving some things until the day before. That doesn’t work here. When three people give you tasks at once, you have to figure out what comes first. And you have to communicate – telling someone you won’t meet a deadline is so much better than staying quiet.

What responsibilities have you taken on?

I’m working on company accounts, VAT returns and reconciliations — including ensuring the VAT calculations are correct before submitting them to HMRC. Everything gets signed off, of course, but I’m the one preparing the work, and there’s a paper trail with my name on it. It’s a big responsibility, but a really cool one.

What are your career aspirations?

After completing my Level 3 and Level 4, I want to gain a higher qualification – either ACA or ACCA. ACCA is recognised internationally, which makes working abroad easier, while ACA is more audit‑focused. I’m still deciding which route fits my future goals best. I’d also love to travel or even do a secondment abroad for a while – maybe Australia. I know people who’ve done secondments there and had a really great time.

What’s your favourite thing about working at Mercer & Hole?

How accessible and supportive everyone is. You can literally talk to anyone – even the managing partners – just casually in the kitchen. That’s rare. In big firms, people might not even know your name. Here, everyone’s approachable, and our Virtual Finance team is small enough that you really get to know each other. It’s a really friendly firm, and I can honestly say that I’m genuinely enjoying my apprenticeship so far.