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During National Apprenticeship Week, we are highlighting the various pathways, skills and experiences of our apprentices and how they joined #TeamDA.

We sat down with our talented Tax Apprentice, Ben Nicholls to discuss his apprenticeship journey so far and the invaluable skills he has gained along the way.

“Which apprenticeship?”. It feels like such a big question.  Can you tell us why you decided on a career in Tax?

I initially applied for the Level 3 AAT Diploma in Accounting as I was unsure of what I wanted to do post sixth form but I had always had a keen interest in numerical subjects at school.

In fact, it wasn’t until my first interview that the idea of Tax was suggested to me.  The complete variety of work that there is in this field makes no two jobs the same and keeps you constantly challenged and interested.

It was apparent from the beginning that the company and team were investing in me long term, I wasn’t just another apprentice and while it can be challenging to decide on a career path, the support at David Allen makes a significant difference.  The opportunities and variety of service lines, combined with the strong support from all the team are helping me to advance both my career and personal growth.

Tell us about the support you received 

The proactiveness of the team here at David Allen to steer me towards a role in tax, rather than accountancy, within the first hour of our meeting, showcases their commitment to helping their people thrive.  I am so glad I took their guidance, as I find my role really fulfilling.

In my department, the support I have received so far has been very constructive and although I sometimes make mistakes, it is always presented as a new learning opportunity.  Everybody is very approachable, friendly and never has any hesitation, regardless of how busy they are, to support me with a task or even explain something twice.

What unexpected skills did you pick up along the way?

My communication skills have really improved during my apprenticeship so far.  Working in four different office locations with various team members has helped me learn to collaborate.  I have also gained a lot of experience dealing with HMRC and other external organisations, as well as emailing and talking to clients on the phone; all within my first few months, which has been great for developing these skills even further.

In my role, it’s crucial to have a mix of technical proficiency and strong communication skills in order to produce accurate tax documents and explain them clearly to clients with different levels of tax knowledge

If you could go back and give yourself a piece of advice at the start of your apprenticeship, what would that be?

Without a doubt, I would always give myself the advice of trying new things and challenging yourself.

Does this sound of interest to you?

Meet Ben and the rest of #TeamDA at our forthcoming Apprenticeship Careers Evening:

Wednesday 26 February
5.30pm – 7.30pm
At our head office in Dalston.

Register your place here.

Alternatively, explore our 2025 apprenticeship programme and other career opportunities here.