EY Apprenticeships – Guide for 2024
Updated October 31, 2024
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What Is Ernst and Young?
Ernst & Young (EY) is one of the Big Four accounting firms – and a popular career destination for graduates, school leavers and seasoned professionals alike.
There are several different career streams for school leavers who want to gain a professional qualification or a degree without going to university, and that is through one of the EY apprenticeships.
EY is a global professional services partnership composed of a network of member firms that are structured as separate legal entities, all operating under the EY umbrella.
The oldest component of the company dates to 1849, while the business as it is now was created thanks to the merger of Ernst & Whinney and Arthur Young & Co. in 1989.
Ernst & Young Global is headquartered in London, but it operates from 700 offices in 150 countries around the world, employing more than 300,000 people.
The professional services that EY offers include:
- Assurance
- Consulting
- Tax
- Advisory Services
As a workplace, EY has been consistently ranked as one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For – for the last 25 years.
It has a great focus on launching careers – with excellent graduate placements and its sought-after apprenticeships.
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What Is the Ernst and Young Apprenticeship?
EY offers many opportunities to school leavers, starting with work experience aimed at those in Year 12 (or S5 in Scotland).
These are:
-
Career Starters – A short programme designed to give you insight into what becoming a business apprentice would be like, with the opportunity to work with current apprentices and leaders with the chance to be fast-tracked into the apprenticeship of your choice.
-
Smart Futures – This is another work experience programme, aimed at those students who might be from a more disadvantaged background. It is a 10-month programme that includes paid work experience at a partner firm during the school holidays, as well as employability skills that are transferable.
For school leavers who are not looking to go to university, opportunities at EY include eight different apprenticeship routes.
Each one of these combines getting hands-on experience in a business area alongside studying for a recognised qualification and being involved in meaningful client work with all the support needed.
All the apprenticeships offer a combination of working and learning, with a competitive salary and access to the full range of EY benefits.
- Assurance EY Business Apprenticeship – 4 years – Level 7 Apprenticeship in Accountancy and Taxation – ICAEW/ICAS qualification
- Turnaround and Restructuring Strategy Business Apprenticeship – 4 years – Level 7 Apprenticeship in Accountancy and Taxation – ICAEW/ICAS qualification
- Tax Business Apprenticeship – 4 years – Level 7 Apprenticeship in Accountancy and Taxation – ICAEW/ICAS qualification
- PAS Mobility Tax and Immigration EY Business Apprenticeship – 4 years – Level 4 Apprenticeship – ATT qualification with potential to complete CTA
- Tax Technology and Transformation Apprenticeship – 4 years – Level 7 Apprenticeship in Accountancy and Taxation – ICAEW/ICAS qualification
- Business Leadership and Management Practice EY Degree Apprenticeship – 3 years – BA (Hons) Business Leadership and Management Practice – registered accreditation of Chartered Management Status from the Chartered Management Institute
- Business Consulting Remediation Apprenticeship – 4 years – Level 3 Compliance Risk Officer Apprenticeship and Level 5 Operations Department Manager – ICA Certificate in Compliance and CMI Diploma in Management and Leadership with Chartered Management Status
- Digital and Technology Apprenticeship – 4 years – BSc (Hons) Digital and Technological Solutions
Benefits at EY
As you would expect from a company that is regularly voted as a great place to work, there are many benefits to a career at EY outside of the competitive salary – which is considerably higher than many other apprenticeships.
Some of the benefits include:
- Matched employer pension contributions, ISAs, loans and financial advice
- Corporate discounts to suit your lifestyle
- Flexible working arrangements
- Discounted gym membership and £500 to invest in your health and wellbeing
Every member of the EY team gets the opportunity to complete the EY Tech MBA at no cost, too – as well as many continued learning and development programmes designed for your career such as EY degree apprenticeship pathways.
Entrance Requirements for EY Apprenticeships
EY is proud of its open access policy, which explicitly states that it does not screen applications based on degree or A-Level results alone – but there are some specific qualifications that you will need to have before you can apply.
You will need to have achieved a minimum of a Grade 4/C in English Language and Maths at GCSE level, and you will need to achieve the A-Level results that you were predicted if your offer was made before the results were announced.
This includes the top three A-Levels (or five Highers in Scotland).
In addition to this, you will have to meet the government requirements to be able to undertake an apprenticeship:
- Not in any other publicly funded training or education
- UK/EEA national who has resided in the UK or EEA for the last three years
- Non-UK/non-EEA national who has resided in the UK for the last three years
- Hold immigration status such as refugee or indefinite leave to remain
These specific requirements might change – they are government mandated – so it is worth checking on GOV.UK if you are unsure.
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How to Apply for EY Apprenticeship
Step 1. Find an Apprenticeship
Applications for apprenticeships only open at certain times, and competition is fierce – which is why you need to be ready to apply as soon as they open.
If there are no apprentice-level roles available, you can sign up to be notified for next year.
Applications usually open early in the year, and close after results day.
You can only apply to one apprenticeship at a time, so it is important that you take some time to consider which one you are choosing – make sure it is something that you are passionate about and that suits your strengths and your career aspirations.
Step 2. Apply Online
The online application process is relatively simple; you’ll need to create an account to start with and this will be the hub of your application.
You will be asked to share personal details as well as information about your qualifications – don’t worry if you haven’t completed them yet, you can use your predicted grades for now.
Once you have completed the application, the recruitment team will review your details.
You might not hear anything back until after results day – this is when your grades will be finalised, and this information will be used to determine your suitability.
If your grades aren’t what you thought, get in contact with the team – they might still be able to help.
Step 3. Immersive Assessments
There is more to an apprenticeship than getting A-Levels or Highers – and the immersive assessment is one way that the recruitment team will evaluate your strengths.
In the immersive assessment you will be faced with different tasks to complete – ranking statements based on how you think they describe you, answering questions in writing and by recording yourself on video, as well as working through case studies.
You might also be asked to take a timed numerical reasoning test to determine your ability to make decisions based on numerical data.
This assessment is designed to be accessible and gives the recruitment team an insight into why you would be suitable for an apprenticeship at EY and what you can bring to the role.
Step 4. EY Experience Day
This is a virtual session offered to apprenticeship applicants who have reached the standards expected in the immersive tests.
During this part of the process, you will be expected to take part in different activities, some on your own and some with other applicants.
You’ll need to complete tasks that evaluate your leadership and teamwork skills, as well as analytical and consulting skills.
These are all based on the EY Strengths that form the basis of the recruitment process (more on this later).
You will also have a strengths-based interview with senior management from the area that you have applied for, and you will need to be able to describe previous experiences where you have used these skills, either in the workplace or at college, for example.
You will also need to answer questions about your motivations – so why you want to work at EY, why you have chosen the apprenticeship route and what your future goals are.
Step 5. Offer Decisions
Decisions are usually made relatively quickly after the interviews are completed, and Ernst and Young apprenticeships usually start in early September.
EY Apprenticeship Application Tips
Research the Company and the Available Positions
Researching EY is important when you are applying for any role, and the same is true for the apprenticeship opportunities.
You will be asked questions in the process about what you know about the company, so the more you can share your knowledge, the better.
You will also want to be sure of the apprenticeship that you have applied for.
For example, options such as an EY audit apprenticeship will suit some people, while others may prefer Ernst Young apprenticeships in other areas.
It needs to match your skills and your abilities, as well as fit into your future career plans – you can only apply for one Ernst Young apprenticeship at a time, and if you are unsuccessful, you will not be able to apply again for at least six months.
This information will help you structure your application, answer questions in the immersive test and present yourself well in the interviews, so it is important to get it right.
Tailor Your Application With the Position in Mind
A tailored application is always better received than a generic one – and when it comes to the EY apprenticeship you want to do your best to demonstrate that you are exactly the right person for the role.
One of the best ways that you can do this is by ensuring that you know exactly what the EY student recruitment team are looking for.
This will be mentioned in the details for the apprenticeship and can be covered in the EY Strengths, which are the building blocks of the company culture.
The strengths are what the company is looking for in employees at every level, so if you can demonstrate these in the application you will be setting yourself up for success.
The EY Strengths are:
- Adaptability
- Curiosity
- Collaboration
- Learning Agility
- Resilience
- Relationship Building
The recruiters want to see that you have excellent integrity and motivation, and that you are willing to take personal ownership of every part of your role.
Practice Online Assessments and Interviews
Online assessments can be daunting, but you can make it easier if you take some time to practise and prepare.
There are lots of resources available to help you with this, such as the EY Assessments package at JobTestPrep.
Here you will find practice tests, revision materials and a helpful guide on what to expect as well.
You can also practise your interview technique by setting up mock interview questions and practising answering them.
Questions where you are expected to give expanded answers relating to your own experiences can be tricky, but if you practise using some sort of structure like the STAR mnemonic, you will be able to be more concise.
Practice makes perfect, for both interviews and assessments.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are many apprenticeship opportunities at EY, but the process is very competitive and it can be challenging to get placed. You need to be prepared at each stage to demonstrate why you are the best candidate to get through to the next round.
EY apprenticeships are open to students who have completed their A-Levels (or Scottish Highers).
You need to achieve your predicted grades, as well as get at least a 4/C in English Language and Maths at GCSE, and you need to meet the government rules for starting an apprenticeship.
There are EY apprenticeships available in every area of the company such as an EY accounting apprenticeship, EY assurance apprenticeship and an EY degree apprenticeship in digital and technology.
Some of the apprenticeships are business-based, including a masters-level qualification as well as industry qualifications, while others are degree-level with industry qualifications.
According to Glassdoor, the average EY apprenticeship salary is £24,300 a year, with the opportunity for cash bonuses and profit sharing as well as other benefits that other EY employees get.
Choosing an EY apprenticeship is a great way to start your career with one of the Big Four accounting firms, and it leads to industry-recognised qualifications such as EY degree apprenticeship opportunities.
You’ll be able to earn as you learn, too – and get involved with meaningful work almost immediately.
Anyone who has completed their A-Levels (Scottish Highers) is eligible for Ernst and Young apprenticeships, if they have achieved 4/C at GCSE in English Language and Maths.
EY reports that it is not using grades to determine eligibility for its programmes, which is why there are other assessment tools used in the process.
Applications for EY apprenticeships only open for a short period of time in the early part of the year, usually closing around May time for a September intake.
To apply outside of this time, you need to be on the mailing list, which you can sign up to on the EY Apprenticeships website.
If you have specific questions you can get in touch with the EY student recruitment team for more information.
Final Thoughts
Apprenticeships are an excellent way for you to learn while starting a career – and an EY apprenticeship is particularly useful for those who are looking for a future in professional services or in accounting.
The application process for EY apprenticeships is rigorous – competition for places can be fierce, so if you want to give yourself the best chance then you need to be prepared and ready for the process.
Getting an apprenticeship with EY will set you up with industry-recognised professional qualifications and experience as well as degree-level knowledge (through opportunities such as EY degree apprenticeships) – the best way to start your career and build your future.
