Anarita’s Story

Starting a new career can be challenging at any stage of life. For Anarita Lopes, moving to the UK, raising three children and working full-time were already part of her journey when she decided to take the next step towards a career in accountancy.

Anarita joined Home Group as a Level 4 Accountancy apprentice, combining her role within the organisation with weekly study at Access Training.

The apprenticeship gave her the opportunity to continue developing her accountancy qualifications while gaining valuable experience within a large organisation.

Taking the next step in her career

Originally from Cape Verde, Anarita had lived in France and Portugal before moving to the UK. Alongside raising her three boys and working full-time, she studied at Newcastle College and the University of Sunderland before applying for an accountancy apprenticeship with Home Group.

The apprenticeship offered Anarita something different from studying alone: the opportunity to put her learning into practice while developing her career within a real finance team.

“The Home Group Accountancy apprenticeship has made a huge difference to me. The one day a week study at Access Training for the AAT Level 4 qualification is the next stage in my accountancy qualifications, but the difference is I’m able to learn whilst understanding how a large organisation works from the inside.”

Learning while gaining real experience

As a Level 4 apprentice, Anarita was able to combine classroom-based learning at Access Training with practical experience at Home Group. This gave her the opportunity to develop technical accountancy skills while gaining an understanding of how finance operates within a large organisation. For Anarita, the combination of learning and work experience was an important part of building her confidence and developing her career. Rather than having to choose between gaining a qualification and gaining experience, her apprenticeship allowed her to do both at the same time.

A pathway into accountancy

Anarita’s journey demonstrates how apprenticeships can support people who are already balancing work, family and other commitments, while helping them develop the specialist skills needed to progress their careers. Her Level 4 Accountancy apprenticeship formed the next stage of her professional development, building on the qualifications and experience she had already gained. It also gave her the opportunity to develop her skills within a well-established organisation, putting her learning into practice from day one.

Could an apprenticeship be your next step?

You don’t have to be starting your career from scratch to benefit from an apprenticeship.

Whether you’re looking to develop existing skills, retrain for a new career or gain a recognised qualification while working, an apprenticeship can provide a practical route to progression.

Find out more about Access Training’s accountancy apprenticeships and the pathways available at different levels.

More than just a training provider…

Gateshead-based Access Training provides upskilling courses and apprenticeships in HR, project management, team leading and management, accountancy, business administration, learning & skills teaching, and fire, emergency & security systems.

We have been delivering training programmes for businesses and individuals across the North East for over 40 years. We have a genuine interest in the success of the companies we work with and the people we train, and we aim to provide a personal, bespoke service.