Making Terrible Tea…

Shihab Hossain, Rachel Hewson, Giles Horwitch-Smith and Mayur.

Mayur Murali, Graduate Apprentice 2008 is almost at the end of his second placement with property management firm LMM.  The second placement has been an enlightening one for Mayur, and as Birmingham Future begin the process to pick the fourth Graduate Apprentice, the Blog caught Mayur in a reflective mood…

With over half my year as the Graduate Apprentice now gone, and applications for next year’s candidates already undergoing analysis for my replacement, I’m beginning to feel a bit like yesterday’s news! It’s like a giant Countdown clock is hanging over my head, tick-tocking away the seconds till the giant bong sounds, and I’m ingloriously dethroned, thrown aside as an over-the-hill has been. Rather melodramatic of course… It’s been brought on by the impending conclusion of my time at LMM, and the beginnings of grown-up hangovers, which really make a night out much harder work than they ever were as a student. However, I still have a whole new chapter to begin at VC Consulting in May, and this got me thinking about what I’ve achieved at my LMM placement, and what I can hope to learn at VC.

A Day in the Life of Mayur Murali Graduate Apprentice

My new years reformations are to be a healthier me, and to try something new everyday. I see several problems with the former – notably my dislike of exercise and my love of sugar and saturated fats. Every year, this theme of self-improvement strikes at precisely 12.01am on the first of January, and rarely is it adhered to. I myself am no different. Already I have succumbed to the twin sins of the mid-morning pastry break and the post-dinner chocolate gorge.

The Third Apprentice

The 2008 Employers & Mayur

Birmingham Future has selected its third Graduate Apprentice. Launched in 2006, the Graduate Apprentice is a UK first in which one recent graduate is given the opportunity to experience three diverse working environments within the professional services sector in Birmingham.

The Graduate Apprentice for 2008/9 is Mayur Murali. He is 21, originally from Buckinghamshire and has just graduated from the University of Warwick where he undertook at Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences.

As part of his formalised year, Mayur will spend four months each, with Deloitte in Birmingham, property management company LMM and with VC Consulting. In addition, he will receive complimentary membership of Birmingham Future as well as joining their mentoring programme and will also receive support and training from Graduate Advantage.

Commenting on his selection Mayur said;

“I am absolutely thrilled to have been chosen. This is a wonderful opportunity. To be able to experience three diverse working environments is the truly unique element of the Graduate Apprentice and the main reason it is so appealing. I am also looking forward to the challenge of making a positive impression to three different employers in a relatively short amount of time and to be able to learn and utilise new skills in each placement.”

Ruth Ward, who chairs Birmingham Future’s Graduates into Employment Committee who oversee and organise the Graduate Apprentice programme said;

“When we launched the Graduate Apprentice three year’s ago it was aimed specifically at Midlands based students. Now in year three of the programme its appeal and popularity has resulted in applications from recent graduates from all over the UK and international students. Clearly the unique experience of a year working with three different companies is very appealing. Jason Norris, our last Apprentice has had a fantastic year in which he has developed skills and knowledge that will considerably strengthen his career prospects. I am delighted that as Jason hands over the role of the Graduate Apprentice to Mayur, he will be taking up a permanent role in the International Tax department at Deloitte.

You can keep up to date with Mayur’s year by reading his blog.