2023 Apprenticeship Awards

James is an outstanding AAT student, consistently being a high achiever and showing a willingness to help others both in the classroom and at work.

He joined a select club of 21% of AAT students globally by achieving a distinction at Level 3 this summer - adding to his Level 2 distinction.

Having enjoyed mathematics at school, James says accounting was an obvious career choice for him and he chose the AAT route rather than university.

He likes the variety of his work, which ranges from VAT and personal tax returns to limited company accounts and bookkeeping. He plays a key role in training new employees and volunteers to help fellow learners.

Keen to challenge himself, James was member of the grŵp team that finished third in the Wales Accountancy Skills competition and hopes to enter the WorldSkills competition in 2023.

Matthew combines his AAT studies with working for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board where he has enjoyed work placements which have enabled him to use the knowledge and skills he has gained.

Having achieved an AAT Level 2 with distinction and an overall pass grade 94%, Matthew is praised for the contribution he makes at work and in the classroom.

He began a fast track AAT course in February 2022 and has developed a wide range of accounting skills, firstly with the Health Board’s contracts department. He managed the flow of patients receiving outsourced treatment from external suppliers and took on extra responsibility when his mentor was on maternity leave.

He is now working in the finance department in Ysbyty Maelor Wrexham where he is using management accounting skills linked to his AAT Level 3 Apprenticeship, which he promotes when speaking to school pupils.

“Eleri embodies all that you would want from an apprentice – she is committed, enthusiastic, hardworking and a popular and valued team member.” So says her employer Audit Wales.

Having achieved her AAT Level 3 Apprenticeship with a distinction, she is now working towards a Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting.

She was a member of a grŵp team that achieved a gold medal for accounting at Skills Competition and went on to compete at the WorldSkills UK final In November.

Eleri also supports fellow apprentices on a Buddy Scheme at work and has volunteered to become the fire marshal for Audit Wales’ North-West cluster. In her spare time, she is treasurer of Y Gorlan charity and a Sunday school teacher.

A Welsh speaker, she embraces every challenge, is very much a team player and keen to develop her career.