Everyone’s accounted for at St Hugh’s
As an employer we feel passionately about helping people develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.
One of the ways we do this is by giving young people experience in the world of work and funding their apprenticeships.
Nineteen-year-old Jack Coney is currently working towards becoming an accountant, gaining practical experience as our apprentice Accountancy Assistant while studying for his Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualification.
Since joining St Hugh’s Hospital in February 2019, Jack has been supporting our finance team by sorting payments, handling cash, dealing with credit control, invoicing and assisting with general tasks to support the smooth running of the hospital.
He said: “When I started, I had little to no knowledge of the healthcare industry but thanks to the help of my colleagues I was able to pick up the basic terminology and learn about how the hospital operates relatively quickly.
“At first, I found it quite challenging to deal with queries over the phone but that’s something I’ve been working hard to improve.
“I’m focused on learning even more and the apprenticeship has been very enjoyable so far; the days seem to fly by and there’s always something I can help out with.”
Jack is being supported by our Financial Controller Heather Waddingham, who is mentoring him in his work and college studies.
The pair meet regularly with Jack’s apprenticeship support contact from the local college to ensure that his studies are on track and that he is coping well with the learning process.
Heather said: “Jack has developed immensely during his time at St Hugh’s. This is his first office-based position, so the environment was completely new to begin with, but he has settled in very well as a valued team member.
“Jack has a thirst for knowledge and learns very quickly; over the past 12 months we’ve seen him grow into the role and the organisation while passing each of his exams to date.
“Thanks to our support, Jack is able to link his theoretical studies to accountancy in practice.”
Jack added: “The apprenticeship has been everything I was looking for. I’m keen to progress within the finance sector and the support offered by St Hugh’s allows me to do this.
“I’m a keen cyclist and runner, so was already aware of the great work done by the hospital to promote healthier lifestyles and the success achieved by the HMT cycling team.
“I can’t fault the support I’ve had from the team in my first full-time job. Everyone has been so supportive, and quickly welcomed me in.”
Heather added: “It’s really important to help young people become effective adults in the workplace and equip them with the skills needed to develop a career in their chosen profession, because they are the workforce of the future.
“Helping young people develop through a programme like an apprenticeship creates a positive culture at St Hugh’s and aids our succession planning.”
We’d like to say well done to Jack for his hard work; he is an excellent addition to the team!
Find out more about what it’s like to work at St Hugh’s via our careers page.