Apprentice Consultant
KPMG
In October 2023, when I first joined KPMG’s consulting apprenticeship scheme, I naively thought success would be defined by my technical ability and delivering perfect work every time. However, now having worked across four different teams, I’ve learnt that in a client-focused environment, soft skills matter just as much as technical knowledge. Put simply, my experience as a consulting apprentice has been groundbreaking and has allowed me to position myself as a changemaker around innovation, early careers and the projects that I work on.
Overall, consulting, for me, has not been a straight line and one of the most exciting parts of the role is how varied it can be. I started out as a Consulting Apprentice working in the ‘Governance, Risk and Compliance Services’ (GRCS) department. Whilst here, I conducted internal audit reviews, facilitated educational programmes and wrote reports for Public Sector clients, focusing on risk mitigation in critical function areas. A key highlight was where I facilitated a ‘Financial Fraud’ workshop with over 50 attendees for a healthcare client, educating them on the prevention of financial fraud. Another key moment was working closely with a client to perform various Data Governance and Cyber Security reviews. I was involved in a 3-month engagement supporting healthcare clients establish and improve processes that allowed them to handle patient data safely and effectively.
In April 2025, I moved into the Financial Transformation Department, where I now advise banks and insurance clients with digital system transformation. A key achievement was being involved as a Processes and Controls Specialist and Business Analyst on my first global project based in East Asia through leveraging my past GRCS and Technology Risk experience. I was responsible for creating user guides, which were essential in training new client users to perform business critical tasks effectively.
I also actively participate in several side-of-desk initiatives, which involve fostering innovation at the firm and advocating social mobility awareness. A key achievement was having the opportunity to share my social mobility story with over 100 senior stakeholders at the KPMG Inclusivity Conference in 2025. Having once struggled with public speaking, this experience was pivotal in building my confidence and turning it into a strength that now defines part of my personal brand.
In my opinion, that variety is what makes consulting incredibly unique. Unlike a typical role where your focus is largely limited to one company, consulting gives you the opportunity to look outwards in an environment where you can step into different organisations, industries, and institutions to contribute in a meaningful way. You’re constantly adapting, learning new contexts, and seeing how different businesses operate.
Looking back, coming into consulting straight from A Levels has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career so far. It has challenged me to grow professionally and personally, exposed me to a wide range of industries, and given me opportunities to host major recruitment events, lead workstreams and speak in Parliament, opportunities which I never expected at the start of my apprenticeship.
As innovation, disruptive technologies, and AI continue to reshape the organisations we work with, attracting and developing the next generation of consultants is more important than ever. For anyone considering a career in consulting, my advice is simple: stay curious, embrace opportunities outside your comfort zone, and make the most of the people and experiences around you.