Why the Group Finance Graduate Trainee Scheme gets you more for your money
Meet Fraser Young. He has completed the Finance Division Graduate Trainee Scheme and is now a fully-fledged member of our Internal Audit team. We caught up with Fraser and asked him about his experiences and the impact they’ve had on his future with NFU Mutual.
Making my mark
One of the best aspects of the Graduate Trainee Scheme (PTS) is the range of work you get involved with. In the Group Finance Department, I worked with the Financial Reporting & Controls team, the Tax team, and the Partnering, Planning & Analysis Team. I could be doing anything from producing monthly accounts, or conducting a tax survey for the ABI, to producing a range of reports for the business. I also had the chance to spend a bit of time here and there with other sections of the department, which allowed me to gain a wider perspective of both the department and business.
There are plenty of opportunities to take ownership of your work and really put your stamp on it. I really value the fact that NFU Mutual trusts the Graduate Trainees; you’re not just given simple tasks, but work with real weight. For instance, when I was handling tax returns for HMRC I was given full responsibility – all contact and queries went directly through me. There was also a lot of exposure to senior management throughout the scheme. All of us on the scheme had the opportunity to sit in on high-profile meetings, and we were also tasked with an individual project to deliver on behalf of the Finance Executive.
A spectrum of skills and social support
It’s no exaggeration to say that the training opportunities are endless. I’ve achieved my CII Certificate. I’m also PRINCE2 qualified and I’ll be finishing my CIMA qualification soon. Each division provides job-specific training in a very hands-on way. NFU Mutual is great for putting on a range of soft skills training courses too, from improving presentation skills and coaching, to dealing with difficult conversations, and so much more.
The company is really friendly across the board. Within the department the team were easy going, supportive and approachable. There’s regular team building events, which could involve getting out of the office for outdoor activities or simply an informal meal with colleagues. There’s a wider support group that gives you the opportunity to socialise with people on other PTS pathways too.
My future, my way
You know which opportunities lie ahead for you because there’s a very open dialogue about it. Your career path is less formally mapped out so the outcome could be pretty diverse, this means that you can really play to your strengths. There is great scope to explore what interests you, what you’re good at and where you want to end up. The PTS helped me to see lots of business areas, find out what appealed to me and where my skills fit in best.
The PTS is a fantastic opportunity to join a great company. I gained a really good understanding of the Finance Division, and how they link in with the other areas of the business. It was especially valuable to spend time with other departments in and outside of Group Finance, gaining a solid grounding of the whole company. Everything from what NFU Mutual stand for, to the atmosphere of the workplace and the way they treat their customers really adds to why it is a brilliant organisation.