´óÏó´«Ã½

Although I thought about attending university, it wasn’t until I studied Higher Accounting and achieved good grades that I seriously considered going on to further education. My family encouraged me to continue studying, as having a degree would open more doors for me, and I chose the University of Stirling as I love the city.

It was my school Accounting teacher who told me about the ´óÏó´«Ã½ programme, and I quickly saw the value it could offer. I really benefited from the mentoring support – my mentor helped me identify ways to improve my academic writing, and to see accountancy as a realistic career option. The Foundation staff team also encouraged me, and I knew that if I needed assistance, I could always reach out and ask for it.

I loved my time at university, and I always focused on how I could achieve a good degree result. It was difficult in early years when I commuted, leaving Glasgow at 5am for classes, but the long-term benefit of prioritising my studies was so clear. The Foundation bursary supported my travel and textbook costs - this meant that I could balance my studies with my part-time job and still have time to enjoy university activities, without becoming overly stressed about my financial situation.

I took advantage of the opportunities offered by the Foundation, such as attending a dinner at Stirling Castle where I met other Foundation students, CAs and the ICAS President. It was great to have the opportunity to benefit from the experience and advice of others - it meant so much to me and gave me much more confidence when I was applying for graduate roles.

I originally planned to take a year out after university to gain some office experience and then apply for graduate roles, but Covid-19 and lockdown delayed me finding the right role. I was keen to work in a smaller practice where I could gain a wide range of experience, so I was delighted when Nelson Gilmour Smith offered me a role where I can work and complete my CA qualification – working in a small office means that I’ve got to know the team and our clients so much quicker.

I’m proud to be the first in my family to attend university. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ was an incredible support throughout my studies, and being part of the Foundation programme gave me the self-belief and confidence that a career in accountancy was for me. If you are planning to study accountancy or finance at university, then I would definitely recommend applying to the ´óÏó´«Ã½ – you have nothing to lose!