Ohemaa

When Ohemaa was weighing up her options after starting her AAT studies, the choice between university and an apprenticeship wasn't a difficult one. "The opportunity of an apprenticeship outweighed university by far for me," she explains. As a kinaesthetic learner, the idea of building skills in a real working environment while earning a wage felt like the obvious path. With her sights already set on a career in finance, Aston Group stood out for a different reason too — its visible contribution to the local community made it feel like the right place to start.

Six months on, Ohemaa is firmly embedded in the Accounts department, where her day-to-day spans processing invoices, reconciling supplier statements, supporting payment runs and maintaining financial records, alongside helping with month-end tasks. Based mainly in the office, she's gained a close-up view of how a busy finance team operates — and discovered that the job is about far more than numbers. "It's surprised me how much problem solving is involved," she says. "It's investigating discrepancies and finding solutions to problems."

That investigative mindset has shaped much of what she's learned. Above all, Ohemaa points to the importance of attention to detail — how small errors can ripple into wider financial reporting issues. She's also seen her classroom learning come to life, watching AAT concepts play out in real business scenarios, and has built real confidence with Excel and spreadsheets along the way. None of this progress happened in isolation. Working alongside Thelma, Kirsty and Muhammad every day, she's found a team that's been "nothing but supportive and patient" in building both her technical knowledge and her confidence.

Asked about her proudest moment so far, Ohemaa doesn't point to a single project but to a quieter milestone: passing her probation period. "It's a reminder of how much progress I've made — from learning systems completely foreign to me, to becoming way more independent in my role," she reflects. Looking back at her first month against where she stands now, the development is clear, both professionally and personally.

That growth has been underpinned by a team culture Ohemaa describes in just two words: extremely supportive. "Starting your first professional role can be intimidating, especially when you're still learning," she says, "but the Accounts team have never made me feel uneasy to ask questions or seek guidance." It's that warmth — people genuinely invested in each other's success — that she values most.

Looking ahead, Ohemaa is focused on continuing her AAT qualification and taking on more responsibility within the team, while pushing herself into new challenges that build resilience for the long term. Her advice to anyone considering an apprenticeship at Aston Group is simple: don't let a lack of experience hold you back. "You don't need to have all the answers on the first day. Confidence comes from doing and consistency, not knowing everything beforehand. All you need is a willingness to learn, a positive attitude and to make the most of the opportunities around you."

This is the first chapter in Ohemaa's apprenticeship story — we'll be following her progress as she continues to build her career in accountancy at Aston Group.