Credit Control Assistant Completes AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting

SCE Group's Credit Control Assistant, Olivia Food, Completes AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting Through Apprenticeship Program

Olivia Food, the SCE Group's Credit Control Assistant, has completed her AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting. She started her apprenticeship in late 2021 and has received support from the SCE Group throughout her training.

The course, described by Olivia, “Helped me to really get an insight into the different aspects of accounting, be it financial or management.”

SCE Group Financial Controller, Andy Hobbs believes the apprenticeship has helped Olivia develop her skills and test them whilst working, “Since joining SCE in credit control, Olivia quickly demonstrated that she is able to successfully deal with collecting debt across a large volume of customers and dealing with queries both internally and externally.

“Olivia's accounting responsibilities have increased since starting her apprenticeship. She now handles tasks such as VAT returns for all 3 group companies and prepares monthly management accounts for bxh, in addition to her credit control duties.”

Olivia feels the same, “The apprenticeship has helped to broaden my knowledge massively. Because of this, I have seen a huge development in my confidence. I now feel I can use my analytical skills on a deeper level, and I feel much more confident when questioning something.”

The SCE Group is committed to investing in its team's training and development. According to Andy, having Olivia complete her apprenticeship has “given Olivia more confidence in her own capabilities”, making her more effective in communicating with stakeholders. As she takes on more management accounts responsibilities, Andy has more time to focus on larger projects.

Olivia recommends apprenticeships, especially in finance, as a great way to enter the industry. Having previously studied the qualification as a full-time college student, she believes that applying the theory to a work setting makes the course material more relatable and has provided many "light bulb moments."

Having completed her training, Olivia is now considering further training, which the SCE Group will continue to support her in, “I would like to progress further definitely. For now, though, I am happy with continuing to apply the knowledge I have currently.”

The SCE Group has supported Olivia throughout her training and full-time role, helping her to effectively manage her time between the two undertakings.

Olivia says, “The support I have had from SCE during my apprenticeship has been great. I really appreciate all the support I've had along the way, especially from Andy. I’ve never really felt any pressure and have been left to work independently and at my own pace, but I have always been able to rely on having support when required. I can’t thank Andy enough.”

Andy is the first to offer his congratulations to Olivia for her hard work in completing her apprenticeship and becoming a key member of his department. “Olivia has worked extremely hard towards achieving her apprenticeship and should be very proud of her achievement, as the whole team is. I hope that this apprenticeship is the first step towards a professional accounting qualification, but whatever Olivia decides to do, I’ve no doubt she will make a success of it.”

The SCE Group Managing Director, Ray Fletcher also expands on the ongoing commitment by SCE to invest in the development of our team, and how important this is to the Group. “There can be no doubting the fact that our apprenticeship recruitment in the past has focused more on the engineering activities associated with SCE. Following the success of the SCE Academy for apprentice engineers, our focus switched to other areas of the business which could benefit from such investment.

“I’m delighted for Olivia and after speaking with her, I know that the course was extremely challenging. I hope that she will use this as a steppingstone to further success within the SCE Group.”