What is an Affinity Apprenticeship Like? An Interview with Cara Bright, Accounts Apprentice Graduate

Wondering what it’s like to be an apprentice at The Affinity Group? We sat down with recent accounts apprenticeship graduate and winner of the Affinity ‘Rising Star’ Award, Cara Bright, to hear her apprenticeship story.

You’ve been with us for about a year and a half now. Think back to two years ago – what were you up to and was doing an apprenticeship always the plan? 

Two years ago, I was working at a restaurant part time and didn’t really have a solid plan for the future. I went through two rounds of uni applications, firstly for forensic science and then for astrophysics (so it was clear I had no idea what I wanted to do!) 

Eventually, I decided that university wasn’t the right option, and I started exploring what other options there were. That’s when I found out about how apprenticeships work and they just made sense – getting paid to get a qualification and not having a mountain of debt! 

Why did you choose to go into accounting? 

I’ve always been a numerical person. I like working with numbers, problem solving, spotting patterns. I wanted something that would involve all of that and was also logical and detail orientated. Stability in a career was also a big factor for me, which accounting offers. Every business needs an accountant!  

I also liked the idea that there were a lot of specialist areas I could choose to go into, although I feel I’m too early in my career to know what I want to specialise in just yet. 

How did you find out about The Affinity Group? 

I first heard about Affinity in 2021 when my sister first started working here. This was in that time when I’d finished my A-levels and was working part time so she would often be talking about potential opportunities for me there. By the time I’d decided that an apprenticeship was the right thing to do, she’d left the company, but she remembered that they’d had an apprenticeship program and recommended that I apply. 

What was the application process like? 

Well, my application process was probably quite different to most people’s as I already had that connection to the company through my sister. I emailed my CV to a member of the SG team directly and that was then passed onto HR. Shortly after, I got a phone call from the company to have a conversation about why I wanted the job and whether I’d be a good fit for the role. At the end of that phone call, I was offered an interview at the office.  

That was my first ever in-person interview so I honestly can’t remember much of it as I was quite nervous! But it must have gone well because 2 weeks later, I’d received an offer from the company for the role of accounts apprentice. The first day was a lot less nerve-wracking than I thought it would be. I’d been sent a lot of information from the company about what the first week would be like and how it would all work. It was nice to know what to expect so it didn’t feel too overwhelming. 

What did your typical work look like during your apprenticeship. 

When I first joined the SG team, I was assigned a mentor who would help me get to grips with the role. I started with reconciliation of accounts, which allowed me to build up my knowledge. At first, all my work was checked over by my mentor before going further, but then eventually over time, I was given more responsibility and now I’m trusted to give my figures ‘off review’. The process of getting to the point of independence was broken up into manageable steps. First, I got used to working with spreadsheets and then when I got the hang of that I moved onto learning how to use FreeAgent. After that it was preparing VAT figures, then filing figures and so on, until I was able to do everything on my own.  

What was the apprenticeship side of things like? 

I had six hours of study time per week which I could use however I needed, whether that was independent learning, working on my end-assessment portfolio, or preparing for my exams. It was very useful to learn how to use my time effectively and become more independent. Every other week I had a call with my apprenticeship mentor who would run through my progress and explain everything about how the apprenticeship side of things worked. I also had access to a course tutor which I could schedule a zoom call with whenever I needed help with the AAT side of the course. And of course, I had my team supporting me through it all too. 

What skills have you learned from your apprenticeship that will help you in your career?  

I had no experience or education in finance or accounting before I joined the company, so everything was new to me. Going from no knowledge to being able to do so much on my own now has been really satisfying. But I think the main skills I’ve gained have been personal ones.  

Understanding how I work best – having a routine and a structure in place to be more efficient. Learning to manage my time and how to get everything done that I needed to for both the company side of things and my apprenticeship work. And then also my confidence! I was a very shy person when I first started but I’ve come out of my shell more. Chatting on the phone to clients was quite daunting at first but now I can easily handle it now. 

What is the best part about working at The Affinity Group?  

It’s definitely the people. A lot of what makes a job enjoyable is that you are happy spending eight hours a day with the people on your team. That’s something I look forward to every day when coming into work. Again, I was very shy when I first got here so it took a while to get to know many people. But after moving from my initial mentor’s direct supervision to a different part of the team, I got to meet more people and started to really enjoy being social with the team. 

What are your plans for the future? 

Having passed my apprenticeship, I’m now AAT level 3 qualified. The next step is to continue onto the AAT level 4 (The Diploma in Professional Accounting) which is something I hope to achieve in the next 2 years. And then the ultimate goal is to eventually to do the ACCA and become chartered, although I’m a long way off from that at the moment! 

What advice would you give those considering an apprenticeship?  

You need to go into an apprenticeship with a good attitude and an open mind. It’s probably going to feel quite overwhelming at the start with both studying and day-to-day work to manage. But it’s getting through those initial tough moments that will teach you the most, so stick with it! 

It’s important to stay patient with yourself. You’ll make mistakes. There will be things you don’t understand yet. But don’t be afraid to get things wrong – you’re an apprentice, so you’re not expected to get everything right from day one. If you get constructive criticism on something, don’t let it get you down. Take it on board and understand that feedback is there to help you improve. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Everyone in the team understands that you are new to everything and they’ll be more than happy to share their accounting wisdom with you.  

And finally, if you’re still not convinced that an apprenticeship is a worthwhile option, consider this:  

For my goal of becoming chartered I had two possible paths. 

1. My apprenticeship (AAT Level 3) –> AAT Level 4 –> ACCA  
2. Go to university for accounting –> ACCA 

The difference being that through going to university I would have accumulated a mountain of debt. Whereas with my apprenticeship, I got real experience in an accounting company and got paid throughout! Of course, each option has its benefits, and which is better depends on the person. But don’t discount the idea of an apprenticeship because it could be the best way for you to start your career.  

If you’re interested in an apprenticeship for September 2026, or have any further questions, please send us an email at: careers@theaffinitygroup.co.uk