Mujahid Khan, a Level 4 Professional Accounting apprentice, has been reflecting on his apprenticeship journey following a nomination at the West Yorkshire Apprentice Awards.
Known to his colleagues as Muj, he has been celebrated after displaying exceptional progress both at Kirklees College and in the workplace at Walter Dawson & Son.
When we asked how it felt to be nominated, Mujahid said: “It felt amazing to be recognised for all my hard work, I never expected to be nominated for an award. The awards evening itself was a shared joy. Celebrating together, win or lose, strengthens the validation and appreciation of all that hard work.”
Reflecting on the nomination and his progress
“Learning how to interact with senior colleagues and clients has been really important. During my apprenticeship I’ve had a massive boost in confidence, learning how best to present myself to others as an embodiment of my values.”
“I would always recommend an apprenticeship. You learn a lot of things that cannot be taught in a classroom, and on-the-job experience in an apprenticeship can be applied directly to the studying, which reinforces the learning. It’s one of the best ways to gain relevant experience.”
Praise from his employer and his tutor at Kirklees College
Emma King, Mujahid’s line manager at Walter Dawson & Son, said: “Muj started at Walter Dawson as a very quiet young man, and over the past few years his progress and development have been extraordinary to watch. He has gone from being apprehensive about dealing with incoming client calls to actively picking up the phone, helping answer queries, and confidently reaching out to clients himself.
“He is always open to learning new things, and there have been many occasions where he has not only volunteered to take something on, but actively sought out opportunities to develop. He initially started by preparing VAT returns that were passed to him, but has since taken ownership of these jobs at his own suggestion and has even taken on a small portfolio of clients himself.”
Gillian Clarke, a Trainer Assessor at Kirklees College, was equally positive: “Mujahid is an A* apprentice. He is a pleasure to have in class. He’s friendly, always with a smile on his face, and highly motivated. He is totally dedicated and committed to his studies, has passed all his exams first time with excellent results, and will go far in his accounting career.”
What’s next?
When we asked where he sees himself in the future, Mujahid added: “I see myself as a qualified chartered accountant, ready to take on a higher management role within my sector.”
Start your own journey as an accountant
At Kirklees College, our range of Accountancy apprenticeships will provide you with a professionally recognised certification in accountancy. Start your journey with us and apply today.