How school opportunities open the door to careers
The right opportunities at school can shape a whole career – and inspire a commitment to helping other young people succeed.
For Georgia, Deloitte was a familiar presence throughout her school life, from a book club and office visits to employability workshops.
Those experiences shaped a journey from the classroom to a career as an Analyst at Deloitte itself. Here, Georgia explains how she’s now volunteering to help other young people access the same opportunities that once opened doors for her.
I attended St Mary Magdalene Academy, a Teach First partner school, between 2015 and 2020. Throughout my time at school, Deloitte played a key role in my education – from taking part in a Deloitte-run book club in year seven, to visiting the London office, through to employability skill sessions in my later years. I felt like I got to know the company and knew early on this is a place where I’d love to work.
I continued at the school for sixth form, and I was focused on the apprenticeship path. I was eager to get on the career ladder and applied for over 30 apprenticeship schemes.
Deciding on Deloitte
I’ve always learnt better through doing tasks first hand, so an apprenticeship was my preferred route. I was lucky to have a few offers to choose from, but once my offer came in from Deloitte the decision was easy. Deloitte had been with me throughout my education and was the perfect place to transition to comfortably with a working environment where I knew I would be supported.
Volunteering opportunities
Deloitte has always encouraged volunteering, and this was a key reason I wanted to work for the company. Deloitte has a policy which allows employees to use 3.5 working hours a month towards volunteering.
Throughout my time at Deloitte so far, I have taken part in many different volunteering activities from litter picking days to helping with one off sporting events for children to attending a team cooking session which was then able to feed local people.
All of these one-off volunteering experiences have been incredibly rewarding, and I always feel privileged to take part.
However, where I have felt most fulfilled is through my long-term volunteering commitments. Since I joined Deloitte back in 2022, I have supported the facilitation of a degree apprenticeship programme with St Mary Magdalene Academy.
Paying it forward
As I joined Deloitte through their degree apprenticeship scheme, this is a topic close to my heart. It is very difficult to gain a place on a degree apprenticeship scheme and even more so if you don’t have the right connections or skills. However, through learning and different opportunities at St Mary Magdalene Academy I was able to develop these to support my application.
Throughout the degree apprenticeship programme, I wanted to remove barriers to degree apprenticeships for people from a similar background to myself.
During the programme, we walked sixth form students through the application process hosting sessions on CVs, online assessments, remote interview skills and assessment centres. The programme has been a success, with some attendees landing their desired degree apprenticeship roles.
In addition to the St Mary Magdalene Academy degree apprenticeship programme, I have recently started a new volunteering role as a school governor for my primary school, and I am really excited to see what this new volunteering opportunity will bring.
Opportunities for growth
I would advise all students to make the most of Teach First’s partnership opportunities, as without the opportunity to gain connections and the right skill set, I wouldn’t have the job I have now.
I will always be grateful for the opportunities provided to me by Teach First and Deloitte, as they have helped shape me into the person I am today and in working at the firm, I’ve had experiences that someone from my background might never otherwise have experienced.
Helping every child fulfil their potential
For 20 years, Deloitte and Teach First have helped young people believe in what’s possible. Read more stories involving colleagues, pupils and volunteers whose lives have been changed through the power of opportunity.