AJ Bell’s first cohort of digital apprentices this week graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) with a BSc degree in Digital and Technology Solutions, as they completed their Digital Apprenticeship schemes with the Manchester-based FTSE 250 company.
Rob Mann, Julia Domanska, Oliver Howard and Kiera Lynchey each achieved either a Distinction (First) or Merit (2:1) as their hard work was recognised at a ceremony presented by MMU’s Chancellor Lord Mandelson, held in the Bridgewater Hall.
Their apprenticeship journeys began back in September 2019, followed by four years of integrated work across AJ Bell’s Technology and Data teams, where they gained valuable experience alongside their degree work with MMU as part of AJ Bell’s award-winning apprenticeship programme. They will now embark on their next steps in their careers at AJ Bell.
Last year saw the largest intake in AJ Bell’s apprenticeship scheme, with a total of 22 apprentices joining the business, including 9 as part of the Digital Apprenticeship scheme. This year’s cohort are set to start in September 2023 and will be biggest group of learners joining the company to date.
AJ Bell was named North West Large Employer of the Year at the National Apprenticeships Awards 2021, which recognises the very best employers, apprentices and apprenticeship champions across the country, and won Large Employer of the Year at the 2023 North West Apprenticeship Awards.
Applications for AJ Bell’s 2024 apprenticeship scheme will open in the autumn.
Chief technology officer at AJ Bell, Mohamed Tagari, says:
“The journey this group have been on was filled with learning and growth, both personally and professionally, and I have seen their transformation into skilled professionals. The diligence, self-motivation, and extraordinary commitment they've demonstrated throughout their apprenticeship have indeed paid off. I am immensely proud and thrilled to have seen their results and look forward to seeing them have long and successful careers here.”
Angela Davies, head of learning and development at AJ Bell, adds:
“We are all enormously proud of Rob, Oliver, Kiera and Julia. They have achieved more in these last four years than we could have possibly imagined. Not only that, but they have represented our business impeccably at many events and have helped to put AJ Bell on the map as an apprentice employer of choice.”