Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2026 Case Study - Ruairidh Kilgour

Ruairidh Kilgour
Manager
EY Parthenon

The path to a successful career in finance is evolving. While the "university-first" route was once considered the only gateway to the industry, Ruairidh Kilgour is part of a new generation of professionals choosing to bypass the lecture hall in favour of immediate, high-impact experience.

Now a manager at a global consulting firm, Ruairidh opted for a Financial Services apprenticeship to secure a "massive head start" on his peers. By balancing the academic rigor of the ICAS Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification with the realities of client-facing work, Ruairidh’s journey offers a blueprint for how young professionals can build significant career capital from day one. 

What was the primary factor that led you to choose a Financial Services apprenticeship over a traditional university degree?

I felt the apprenticeship offered the opportunity to build my experience within a global consulting firm, which I knew would be a good career grounding alongside gaining an internationally recognised professional qualification, something I knew I would have had to do post university anyway!  

Which technical skill and which 'soft skill' have been most vital to your progression in the industry?

In terms of technical, it would be the skills gained through the ICAS CA qualification. It’s difficult to narrow it down to a single soft skill, so I’ll pick two – organisation and teaming. You need to take ownership of whatever you’re working on, whilst being able to build an effective relationship with those you are working with – you can’t build a career on your own! 

Financial Services can be a high-pressure environment; how did the mentorship or support structure of your apprenticeship help you navigate the transition into the corporate world?

There was a big shift in transitioning into the corporate world, especially as I had to balance it with studying. However, we have a really good mentoring culture within the firm on engagements, and I had a performance counsellor throughout my apprenticeship who was able to guide me through my first few working years. 

If you were speaking to a student considering a Financial Services apprenticeship today, what is the one thing about the industry - or the apprenticeship itself - that would surprise them the most?

In terms of the apprenticeship, I would say the number of opportunities it creates at a relatively young age. I had been hesitant to go down a non-traditional university route due to thinking it may limit career growth, but it’s not been the case. 

As Ruairidh’s experience illustrates, a modern financial services apprenticeship is far more than a simple alternative to university - it is a strategic career accelerator. By embracing early-career autonomy and leaning into a robust internal support structure, Ruairidh has successfully transitioned from a school environment to the fast-paced world of global consulting. His story serves as a powerful testament to the value of the apprenticeship route: it proves that with the right combination of technical training and "team sport" soft skills, the trajectory for an apprentice can often outpace the traditional graduate path.