Zane Salmon, one of our AAT Apprentices, was victorious at the 2019 PQ Awards - named Apprentice of the Year.
The national awards celebrate Accountancy success – across all areas of the profession: from the tutors, to training providers, to the learners themselves.
Zane is an exceptionally hardworking apprentice and his record speaks for itself: achieving an average of 97% when studying Level 2 AAT with Kaplan.
His upwards trajectory continued. With Level 3 AAT, after completing two units, he scored 94% and 83% respectively. He’s now on-course for a Distinction with his Level 3 AAT Qualification.
Today he works towards his Apprenticeship as an employee of Grant Thornton, in their Audit Department. Never one to rest on his laurels, he’s made an immediate impact at the large corporate.
Award-worthy
Zane’s academic Zane Salmonjourney is exemplary, but it’s his personal story that must have caught the judges’ attention. Zane’s route to success came from a collaboration between Kaplan and LTSB (Leadership Through Sport & Business).
LTSB are a national social mobility charity that supports bright young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into to meaningful work in major firms.
Through intensive training and partnerships, with blue-chip companies and elite football foundations, their transformative Accountancy Apprenticeship programme develops young people personally and professionally. It better prepares them for the business world.
We address all forms of disadvantage: personal, in terms of adverse life-events; socio-economic, in terms of class boundaries or lack of social capital; and practical, in terms of the preparation young people have had for the working world.
Up to this point in his young career, Zane hadn’t had it easy. Previously overlooked for opportunities within the sector, he was concerned it was due to his mild ADHD and dyslexia. Zane had also recently left home, and was tasked with living alone and having to support himself. At such an age, there was a lot resting on his shoulders.
During this period, he assessed the options available and came across the LTSB “More Than an Apprenticeship” programme. So in September 2017, with the intention of gaining an Accountancy and Finance Apprenticeship he applied.
The rest, they say, is history.
Zane’s PQ nomination made reference to the huge first impression he made, and the impact he continues to make, at Grant Thornton. The company hope to make his role permanent after the completion of his Level 3 qualification.
Zane’s strength of character and determination has been effectively channeled into the opportunity created by Kaplan and LTSB. It’s great to see the programme truly work for those it intends to support.
This programme helped me develop both personally and professionally. It's changed my life.
Well done Zane!
Find out more about the Leadership Through Sport and Business programmes.