Financial Services Foundation Apprenticeship Spotlight - Jenna
Did you know that a Foundation Apprenticeship lets pupils gain real industry experience while they are still at school? Our Financial Services Foundation Apprenticeship (FA), delivered in partnership with Aviva, gives pupils the opportunity to build valuable workplace skills while working towards a Higher-level qualification (SCQF Level 6). After completing the course, Jenna kindly stayed in touch with us to share what happened next in her career journey ⬇️
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Jenna, and I’m based in Perth.
What are you now doing after completing your Foundation Apprenticeship at UHI Perth?
After completing my Foundation Apprenticeship, I joined Aviva as a Risk and Controls Associate. My role focuses on identifying and managing risks, reviewing controls, and supporting teams to ensure processes are compliant and well‑governed.
Why did you decide to do the Foundation Apprenticeship in Financial Services?
I chose the Foundation Apprenticeship in Financial Services to gain qualifications and real‑world experience while exploring different areas of the financial industry. As I’m interested in investment banking, it felt like a strong starting point to build my knowledge and understanding of finance.
What was your favourite thing about the course?
My favourite thing about the course was how it gave me a strong understanding of the financial services industry. I also really valued the encouragement of independent learning, alongside the support from knowledgeable and approachable lecturers.
Were there been any standout/memorable moments from your course?
A standout moment for me was the feedback I received during my three‑day work experience in February. It was reassuring to hear how my skills, engagement and approach were recognised, and it boosted my confidence moving forward
How different was the style of teaching at college compared to school? Were your lecturers supportive during your studies?
College teaching focused more on independent learning compared to school, which I found really beneficial. The lecturers were very supportive and accommodating throughout my studies.
What knowledge, skills and experience did you gain from your course that helped you secure your current job?
I developed teamwork and problem‑solving skills through project work, and I became more confident presenting ideas clearly. Having the chance to explore topics, build a project and present findings helped prepare me for a professional role.
What did you enjoy most about your work placement with Aviva? Was it a useful and interesting experience?
What I enjoyed most about my work placement with Aviva was being treated like a real employee rather than a student. I was trusted with meaningful tasks, not just activities to fill time, which made the experience feel genuine and valuable.
Now that I work at Aviva, it’s been great to return to and further develop work I first started during my placement. For example, the Let’s GET Talking newsletter - a people‑focused newsletter shared across my department - was created by my manager and myself during my work experience. Being able to continue, refine and continuously improve something I helped build has been really rewarding and shows how useful and impactful the placement was.
What are your future career plans?
To continue working at Aviva by progressing onto a Graduate Apprenticeship, where I hope to gain a degree in accounting. In the long term, I aim to work towards my professional qualifications, such as becoming a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Investor, and eventually progress into Aviva Investors.
And finally, what advice would you give to someone thinking about doing the Foundation Apprenticeship in Financial Services at UHI Perth?
I would 100% recommend going for it. You learn a huge amount, develop a wide range of transferable skills, and open the door to loads of real career opportunities. The experience gives you a strong understanding of the industry while earning a qualification at the same time and who doesn’t love achieving an A without sitting a traditional exam?
