Level 2 Business students at West Herts College gained valuable real-world experience as they took part in an interactive Finance Workshop held at the Watford Campus and delivered by the College’s in-house Finance Team.
Designed to bring classroom learning to life, the session gave students the chance to “try the job” through three practical finance scenarios that mirror everyday tasks in the workplace.
Students began by tackling invoice checking, where they compared invoices against purchase orders to identify discrepancies and missing details. The activity introduced them to the importance of accuracy and how finance professionals resolve errors efficiently.
The second task focused on tracking income and expenditure. Working through a business scenario, students calculated profit and loss while developing a clearer understanding of financial performance and decision-making.
In the final activity, students explored budgeting and decision-making. Given a set budget, they were challenged to make strategic choices and justify their spending decisions – strengthening both their analytical thinking and communication skills.
Through these hands-on tasks, students developed essential workplace skills including attention to detail, organisation, time management, communication, and the use of digital tools.
Jacob Stewart, Finance Officer, said: “Hosting a Try the Job workshop was a great opportunity to give students an insight into the variety of careers and skills involved within finance. It was really encouraging to see their enthusiasm and curiosity throughout the session. Hopefully it helped them better understand what working in finance is really like.”
The workshop also highlighted the wide-ranging opportunities available within the finance sector, helping students see how these roles exist across virtually every industry.
Toni Reda, Employer Liaison Facilitator at West Herts College, added: “We were delighted to deliver this workshop alongside our Finance Team. Sessions like this help learners understand just how vital finance roles are to the success of any organisation. It was fantastic to see students engaging so positively with real-world tasks. A huge thank you to Jacob and the team for supporting our Try the Job initiative.”
The session forms part of the College’s GAP programme, which is designed to prepare students for their future careers through activities such as industry placements, masterclasses, live briefs, and employer-led workshops.
At West Herts College, students are supported to explore career pathways, build confidence, and develop the skills needed to take their next steps with clarity.
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