Behind the numbers: Fareed’s first look at life in finance

Work experience placements can provide valuable insight into future career opportunities, and for Fareed, spending time with the Trivallis Finance team offered a closer look at how finance supports the wider organisation.

A student at Stanwell School in Penarth, Fareed is currently studying Maths, Psychology and Business Studies. With aspirations of becoming a chartered accountant, he was keen to gain practical experience and develop his understanding of the profession.

Interested in learning more about the industry and how different departments work together, Fareed joined the team to gain first hand experience of working in finance.

“I wanted to learn more about the industry, especially in practice, and how it connects with other departments within a business,” he said.

Fareed’s interest in finance first developed during his GCSE studies after choosing Financial Literacy as a subject.

“I became interested in finance during my GCSEs as I chose Financial Literacy as a subject and absolutely loved it.”

During his placement, Fareed gained a greater appreciation of the variety of roles and responsibilities within finance, as well as the important role the team plays in supporting the organisation’s day to day operations.

“I learned how intricate finance can be and how many different types of finance there are, especially within accounting.”

Alongside developing his knowledge of the sector, Fareed also enjoyed experiencing the team environment and seeing how colleagues worked together.

“I mainly enjoyed the friendliness and work ethic of the people in the Finance team as they were extremely hard working but also knew when to take breaks.”

One of the highlights of the week was the opportunity to see first hand how Trivallis projects support local communities.

“One of my highlights with the Finance team was going on an excursion to the Penrhys project with Sophie.”

The placement also helped him strengthen important workplace skills, particularly communication.

“It has helped me increase my communication skills as, when working with many people within the industry, clear communication was needed.”

Reflecting on his experience, Fareed said the placement had encouraged him to continue exploring the profession and deepen his understanding of the sector.

“It has made me more curious about the intricacy of this career and motivates me to learn about it further.”

For anyone considering work experience in the future, Fareed’s advice is simple:

“Listen very carefully, make notes and ask questions if you don’t know or understand anything.”

Outside of his studies, Fareed enjoys playing basketball with his local club and listening to music. With ambitions of becoming a chartered accountant, the experience has provided valuable insight into the profession and reinforced his interest in pursuing a future career in finance.

By offering work experience opportunities across a range of departments, Trivallis is helping young people gain valuable workplace experience, develop new skills and explore potential future career paths. Through his time with the Finance team, Fareed was able to gain a first hand insight into a profession that often operates behind the scenes, while building skills and knowledge that will support him in the future.