It opens so many doors
Eryn Paterson shares her experiences with the ICAS Foundation
The ICAS Foundation supports talented young people from disadvantaged communities into university through the provision of mentoring and financial assistance.
One of the Foundation students currently enrolled on the programme is 22-year-old Eryn Paterson, who is in her fourth year of an Accountancy degree at the University of Glasgow.
Eryn says: “Maths and Business were probably my two strongest subjects. I thought it was a good idea to put the two together.”
The Foundation helps young people to meet their true potential by pairing students with CA mentors, by offering a bursary worth up to £2,500 per annum, and by supporting students to secure suitable internships.
Eryn completed two internships, first with Consilium Chartered Accountants in 2018 and then with ICAS this summer.
She says: “It was my first insight into the profession. That was the first time I got to seriously consider whether I actually wanted to do this as a career.”
The opportunity to work with and meet CAs across different industries offers students the additional benefit of making essential professional connections.
“It opens so many doors,” says Eryn. “I know that if I wasn’t with the Foundation, I wouldn’t have made a lot of the contacts and made the connections I have.”
Set to graduate with first-class honours in the summer of 2020, Eryn is currently applying for a graduate job, and is looking forward to starting her CA training.
She said: “The Foundation helps you recognise the possibilities of what you can achieve in your career. Everyone I have met has been so supportive and encouraging, and this is something I will always be grateful for.”
To support the work of the ICAS Foundation by providing an internship, becoming a mentor or making a donation please visit www.icasfoundation.org.uk or contact Linda Jamieson at ljamieson@icasfoundation.org.uk.
The ICAS Foundation is a charity registered in Scotland SC034836.