From farming to finance: How virtual work experience shaped a career path

AAT apprentice Laura Watson’s journey proves that structured virtual placements can be even more valuable than traditional work experience.

Laura Watson would sit at her family’s farm table, helping her mum with the accounts and hoping that one day she’d have a career in finance. A few years later, she passed her AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting and is working as an auditor through a five-year apprenticeship programme. An important part of her success story was a two-day virtual work experience placement that opened her eyes to opportunities she hadn’t previously known existed.

“I just thought that I needed to find a job where I could become an accountant and do bookkeeping all day, every day,” Laura reflects. “Then I realised, oh wait, no, finance is so much more than that.” Her experience highlights exactly why AAT’s newly launched virtual work experience platform could be transformative for young people across the UK.

Laura’s story demonstrates how virtual work experience can overcome the barriers that AAT’s latest research reveals are blocking young people from accessing career opportunities. With 41% of young people having less than £8 per day to spend on work experience-related costs and 69% believing access depends unfairly on “who you know,” Laura’s journey shows how virtual platforms can level the playing field.

Breaking down traditional barriers

Laura’s path into finance wasn’t straightforward. Unlike many of her school peers who were steered towards university, she knew she wanted an apprenticeship route. “My school was very university-focused,” she explains. “I very much had to do the process on my own.” This lack of institutional support reflects a broader issue where only 16% of young people secure work experience placements independently.

The geographic and financial barriers that affect so many young people could easily have derailed Laura’s ambitions. Living on a farm in Chester, she faced similar challenges to those highlighted in AAT’s research: 40% of employers host work experience candidates in Greater London, creating geographic inequality for young people in other regions.

“I couldn’t just turn around and go, ‘Okay, let’s go to a placement for a week,'” Laura recalls of her situation during A-levels. “I was revising for exams; I had a lot on my plate.” The inflexibility of traditional in-person work experience, combined with the practical challenge of location and other costs, would have been insurmountable obstacles.

The virtual solution in action

Laura’s virtual work experience opportunity was a two-day placement with a wealth management company, bringing together 200 participants on a single platform.

“It was very informative and structured,” Laura explains. “Every hour or two, we’d go to a different department. The head of that department had prepared a presentation, and they’d chat with us about what they do, show us examples, and get us involved.”

This structured approach addresses one of the key challenges of traditional work experience that Laura identified: “Real world work experience can often be quite unplanned and a bit here and there, whereas the virtual one means you know exactly what you’re going to get out of it.”

Building professional skills and confidence

The virtual delivery brought other unexpected benefits. Laura could interact with other participants and access departments and senior professionals she would never have encountered in a standard placement.

Beyond exposure to different career paths, it also provided practical professional development. The programme included LinkedIn workshops and CV writing sessions – skills that proved invaluable when she began applying for apprenticeships.

“They covered CV writing – I knew I needed to draft one, but it was a very daunting task,” Laura recalls. “Those little sessions were really informative.” The professional development element gave her the confidence to navigate the job application process independently.

The networking opportunities also exceeded what traditional work experience might offer. “So many people were contributing to the chat and asking questions that it allowed people to connect with each other and with presenters,” Laura explains. “It allowed for greater networking despite being virtual.”

Accessibility and inclusion

Virtual work experience can make opportunities accessible to young people who might otherwise be excluded. The financial barriers alone – transport costs, professional clothing, and time away from studies – could have prevented her participation.

“I can’t imagine what it would be like if you had to organise all your transport and buy yourself new fancy clothes,” she reflects. “That wouldn’t have been accessible for me at the time based on my personal scenario.”

This accessibility is crucial for diversifying the finance profession. As Laura observes: “You think of accounting and finance and there’s an image in your head of a middle-aged man in a suit walking across London Bridge with a briefcase.” Virtual work experience helps break down these stereotypes by making the profession accessible to young people from all backgrounds.

Real-world impact

The virtual work experience had a direct impact on Laura’s career trajectory. While the placement was with a wealth management company and she ultimately became an auditor, the broad exposure to finance roles gave her the confidence to pursue opportunities she might not have considered.

“I wouldn’t have understood the different roles available, and I wouldn’t have been so ready to apply for my role,” Laura reflects. “Because I got this understanding of everything and was given that opportunity, it made everything so much smoother.”

Lessons for the future

Laura’s advice for young people considering virtual work experience emphasises active engagement: “Keep your attention focused and try to interact as much as possible. Post things in the chat and ask questions. No question is a silly question – just get as much as you can out of it.”

She also highlights the importance of virtual work experience in addressing educational gaps: “School was so focused on university applications, but so many people go straight to work and take different opportunities. It’s really important that these work experiences are made accessible to everyone to show there are other things out there.”

Transforming access to opportunities

Laura’s story illustrates exactly why AAT’s virtual work experience platform represents such a significant step forward. As AAT CEO Sarah Beale notes: “Virtual placements are a powerful way to level the playing field and provide a desperately needed talent pipeline, helping young people gain vital experience without financial or geographic limits.”

The structured, professional approach that Laura experienced – with planned presentations, skills workshops, and networking opportunities – demonstrates how virtual work experience can actually provide more comprehensive exposure than traditional placements. For young people like Laura, who faced geographic isolation and financial constraints, virtual platforms remove barriers that might otherwise limit their career prospects.

AAT’s virtual work experience programme is available at springpod.aat.org.uk. The research was conducted by 3Gem Research and Insights, surveying 1,000 14-18-year-olds and 350 UK companies in May 2025.

Sophie Cross is the Editor of Freelancer Magazine and a freelance writer and marketer at Thoughtfully.