Idris took part in the Sutton Trust Apprenticeship Summer School in 2022 which allowed him to strengthen his networking skills and make exciting connections. He is now doing a degree apprenticeship with Bloomberg in their Analytics department. Read more to hear about Idris’ key takeaways from the Apprenticeship programme and his current role.

Tell us a bit about your background.

I’m Idris, I was born in south London but I now currently live in Essex, Tilbury. I am of African descent.

What was the highlight of your Sutton Trust programme?

For me, it was the networking session that was part of the Apprenticeship Summer School as I met someone from the Classroom to Boardroom Foundation who was integral in helping me land multiple apprenticeship offers.

What have you gained from the programme and how has it impacted you?

I gained knowledge of the application process to become an apprentice and engaged in activities that I could mention in interviews to demonstrate that I had the skills employers want. Taking part in this programme has helped me develop the skills needed to land an apprenticeship but more importantly it gave me the belief that I could do so.

What was the first step in your career?

The first step in my career was actually work experience at Bloomberg which I found through looking around on Google.

What does a typical day in your role entail?

70% of my role involves answering client questions regarding the financial software provided by my company. The other 30% is proactive work where I’m reaching out to clients showing them the ways in which they can use the product in ways to enhance their workflow.

What is the best thing about your role?

I enjoy how much you learn on the role both through training and interactions with clients. I’m at a company where there is hard but simple way to succeed which is truly a gift.

What barriers have you faced in your career?

The main barrier I faced was information regarding what I was actually getting myself into. I overcame this through reaching out to current apprentices, trying to get as much work experience as I could and leveraging the resources around me such my college’s careers person.

What would you say to someone thinking about applying to a Sutton Trust programme?

I would say if even 1% of you feels like you may regret not applying to it, to apply. It is such a wonderful programme where you’ll be able to explore what you want to do in the future and make friends along the way.

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