RGU offers Graduate Apprenticeship (GA) courses designed around the needs of businesses which allow employees to continue to work while they earn their degree over the course of four years.
Millie McKenzie, Finance Office Assistant at Baxters Food Group, is a first-year student on the ICAS Account Course GA. She answers our questions about the application process, her experience of the course, and how it has benefitted her and her employer.
How did you first discover RGU’s Graduate Apprenticeship (GA) courses?
I wasn’t aware of the RGU GA courses until I joined Baxters Food Group and Laine made me aware of this option! Now I am doing the GA course I see it everywhere on LinkedIn, social media, DYW, etc.
Can you tell us more about your current role?
In my current role, I do operational accounting. This entails producing factory Product and Losses, operational reports, business partnering, looking at Cost of Goods Sold, and presenting the numbers from production in all our European Sites (Fochabers, Colchester, Manor & Poland).
How does the GA course benefit your professional development?
The GA is benefiting my professional development because what I am doing day-to-day links to what I’m learning. The topics covered that I am not directly involved in help me get exposure to these areas within the workplace which really helps my knowledge and understanding.
What do you think are they key advantages for your employer in supporting you through the course?
I think the key advantages for my employer is loyalty, recognition, my own personal growth and development. As I enhance and learn new skills everyday, I am able to be involved in more projects and share my thoughts and ideas.
What was your experience like with application and onboarding?
The application for the GA course was super simple and a very quick process! All I needed was my CV and to fill out the application form to apply. Then, I had a virtual call with Gregg Walker, the Graduate Apprenticeship Manager at RGU, which happened almost immediately once I applied. Afterwards, I was accepted and enrolled in August onto the ICAS Accounting course.
How does hybrid learning help you juggle your work and studies?
I am very lucky that my employer can be flexible with my study time. Each module, I usually find that lecture times change and may not land on my certain study day. My employer allows me to change my days and time in line with workload, university deadlines, etc.
I also build in time for the campus session of which there is one per each module, and the business allows me the time off to go.
Do you have examples of how you’ve integrated your studies into work projects?
Each module I am required to complete work-based-learning activities to complete my learning plan. This allows me to carry out a university task within my workplace.
For example, one of my tasks was to carry out a PESTLE analysis on my workplace. This allowed me to speak to relevant colleagues in this area, have meetings with the Supply Chain director and Legal Director, and have a secondment in Supply Chain to understand each factor and what we do as a business to manage it.
Did you face any challenges and how did you overcome them?
I think in the beginning I was eased in gently with the modules and deadlines set by the university which was nice to adapt to a new balance between work and studies. I have also received lots of support from my mentor and colleagues along the way!
Any final thoughts about your GA experience so far?
I am thoroughly enjoying the course so far. It is an incredible opportunity I have been given. I have made lots of new connections and I think the course is really helping my knowledge, understanding and confidence in my workplace as well!
Millie McKenzie
Laine Herd, European Business Performance Manager at Baxters Food Group:
The GA course option is working brilliantly for the business. For Millie, I think the hands-on experience is being really complimented by her studies (and she’s smashing the courses!!) and I can see her confidence grow as a result.
The understanding of what she is doing vs just following step-by-step instructions and completing tasks, as might have been the case initially, is really clear as she learns the theory and principles, and she really is making her mark here within the business.
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