Alumni Q&A with former apprentice, Ellie Baddeley

Q: Which school did you go to and how did you do in your GCSE’s?

A: I went to Thistley Hough High School and achieved 11 GCSE’s, A*-C with my highest grade being in Maths.

Q: Why did you choose to study at Newcastle College?

A: I had heard positive things about the college and in particular the high pass rates, and the courses I was looking to study all sounded really interesting. So the combination of both really attracted me to enrol at Newcastle College. It was by chance really that I chose accounting but I then realised I really enjoyed it and was quite good at it.

I chose to study A- level Accounting, Psychology and Chemistry and I was so happy to achieve an A, B and C in my exams.

Q:What did you enjoy most about being a student here?

A: You spend a lot of time at college and I found the lecturers to be really supportive. One of the lecturers, Richard Simpson, really inspired me during my time at college and he was one of the main reasons I enjoyed the Accounting course so much. I also really enjoyed my Psychology course, although this isn’t the career path I have taken.

There is a really nice atmosphere across the campus and there are so many good facilities for you to enjoy.

Q: What did you go on to do after College?

A: I decided to enter the world of employment and got an apprenticeship through the college at Mitten Clarke Ltd. I got a Distinction at Level 3 and a Merit at Level 4 which I am really proud of and was lucky enough to complete my AAT whilst working here too.

Q:What is your current job and what are your plans for the future?

A: I am now a Trainee Accountant at Mitten Clarke. My main role is year-end accounts, management accounts, tax returns, VAT and software support. I have just started my Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification and I am hoping to be fully qualified in the near future.

Q: Are you working on any exciting projects at the moment as part of your role?

A: I am about to become involved with more complex accounts within the organisation which is a challenge that I am looking forward to. I am also looking forward to becoming involved with training junior staff members, which I’m sure will help me to progress in my career.

Q: What is your most notable achievement?

A: Becoming AAT qualified has been a real achievement in my career so far, and will open more doors for me in the future.

Q: How did studying at NSCG help you get into your industry/sector?

A: I was lucky enough to get really sound advice from the college and Richard Simpson recommended me for the Mitten Clarke work experience programme. I would really recommend that any students, whatever their interests or career goals to take apply for work experience placements and to take advice and guidance from the lecturing staff.

Q: If you had to sum up your time at NSCG in one sentence, what would it be and why?

A: It was a fun experience and really helped me to decide what to do for a career.

If you are inspired by Ellie's journey, head over to our apprenticeships page to see if this could be an option for you.