Work Experience at Blue Spire- A Student’s Perspective On What Makes a Great Workplace?

My name is William, and I’ve recently finished my A Levels. As I’m currently considering a career in accountancy, I was excited to spend a week on work experience at Blue Spire to get a better understanding of what it’s really like working in an accountancy practice.

One of the tasks I was given during the week was to write a blog about my experience. Rather than writing a diary of everything I did, I wanted to write about the thing that stood out to me the most – what actually makes a great workplace.

Before arriving for work experience, I had the same idea that a lot of people probably do. I imagined an office where everyone quietly got on with their own work, spending most of the day looking at spreadsheets. While I knew I’d be spending time with different departments, I didn’t realise how much goes on behind the scenes or how many different people it takes to keep the business running smoothly.

Looking back on my week, I realised that a great workplace isn’t just about the work itself. It’s about the people, the atmosphere and how everyone works together every day.

Everyone works together

One of the first things I noticed was how much the different departments work together.

I expected everyone to stick to their own jobs, but that wasn’t the case at all. Throughout the week I saw people from Accounts, Tax, Payroll, Marketing and Reception constantly speaking to each other, sharing ideas and helping each other out. If someone wasn’t sure about something, they’d simply ask a colleague rather than trying to work it out on their own.

It made me realise that although everyone has their own role, nobody works completely independently. There’s a lot more teamwork involved than I ever expected, and it’s clear that good communication plays a big part in helping clients get the best service possible.

Every role matters

Another thing I learnt was just how many different roles there are within an accountancy practice.

Before this week, if someone had asked me what jobs there were at an accountants, I’d probably have just said “accountants”. I quickly found out there’s a lot more to it than that.

Reception is the first point of contact for clients, Payroll keeps businesses running behind the scenes, the Accounts and Tax teams each have their own areas of expertise, Marketing helps keep clients informed and up to date, and the Directors oversee the business as a whole.

Seeing how everything fits together made me appreciate that every department has an important part to play. Without one of them, things simply wouldn’t run as smoothly.

Everyone was happy to help

Walking into a workplace where you don’t know anyone can be quite daunting, but that feeling didn’t last long.

From the first day of work experience everyone made an effort to introduce themselves and explain what they were working on. No matter who I spoke to, people were happy to answer my questions and explain things in a way that made sense.

I never felt like I was getting in the way or asking too many questions, which made settling in much easier. It also made me realise how important it is to work somewhere where people actually want to help each other.

It’s a lot more modern than I expected

One thing that really surprised me was how much technology is used every day.

Before coming to do my work experience at Blue Spire, I imagined there’d be loads of paperwork and files everywhere. Instead, I saw teams using different software such as Xero or BrightManager and digital systems to make their jobs quicker and more efficient.

I also spent time with the Marketing team and got to see a completely different side of the business, including photography, social media, video editing and AI tools. It wasn’t something I’d expected to find in an accountancy practice, but it showed me how businesses are constantly changing and using new technology in different ways.

It definitely changed the picture I had in my head before I arrived.

My confidence definitely grew

At the start of my work experience I was naturally a bit nervous. You’re meeting lots of new people, trying to remember names and hoping you don’t ask a silly question.

As the week went on, that feeling disappeared. Spending time with different departments and speaking to lots of different people made me much more comfortable in a professional environment.

By the end of the week I felt much more confident asking questions, introducing myself and getting involved in conversations. It’s something I’ll definitely take with me into future jobs and interviews.

It’s more than just work

One of the biggest surprises for me during my work experience wasn’t actually the work itself – it was the atmosphere in the office.

Everyone works hard, but there’s also a really friendly environment. People have a laugh together, chat throughout the day and genuinely seem to enjoy working with each other. It doesn’t feel like one of those offices where everyone sits in silence.

I also found out that Blue Spire organises lots of things outside of work as well. Whether it’s office games like Celebrity Traitors, fundraising events, charity activities or even cricket days, there are plenty of opportunities for everyone to spend time together away from their desks.

I think that makes a big difference. When you spend so much of your week at work, it’s nice to see people getting on so well and actually looking forward to the social side of things too. It creates an atmosphere where people seem happy to come into work, and as someone looking at possible careers, that’s something I’d definitely look for in the future.

Final thoughts

Before I started my work experience, I mainly wanted to find out whether accountancy was something I could see myself doing in the future.

I’ve definitely learnt a lot about the profession, but I’ve also learnt what makes a workplace enjoyable. Good teamwork, friendly people, modern ways of working and an environment where everyone supports each other all make a huge difference.

I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone at Blue Spire for making me feel so welcome throughout my work experience week. I’ve really enjoyed my time here, learnt a lot more than I expected to and it’s definitely made me think more seriously about a future career in accountancy.