Fast-growing Top 50 accountancy firm Thomas Westcott Chartered Accountants has announced its largest-ever intake of apprentices.
This comes following several years of strong growth for the firm, during which it has almost doubled in size and spread from its Devon base into Somerset for the first time.
The new intake of 10 young aspiring accountants and business advisers are all working towards ACA (Associate Chartered Accountant) qualifications as they take their first steps into the profession.
Shona Godefroy, Deputy Managing Partner at Thomas Westcott, said: “We have always been a strong supporter in helping young people gain a foothold in the sector, and our track record guiding apprentices towards achieving their fully chartered status underlines this.
“As a firm we have enjoyed significant growth, underpinned by mergers with other firms that share our values and aspirations, but there is more to come and we recognise the need to bring in fresh new talent to help us achieve our goals.”
In addition to the 10 ACA trainees Thomas Westcott is also taking on further ACCA and AAT students, all of which will work towards professional qualifications as apprentices at the firm.
Shona Godefroy continued: “This will be our largest-ever single intake of apprentices which, in addition to supporting our growth, will help us as we look for the firm’s future leaders.”
Ben Andrews is one of the new apprentices currently working towards his ACA qualification.
Based in the firm’s Barnstaple office, Exeter University graduate Ben, 25, said: “Before joining Thomas Westcott I’d been looking for a new direction and the ACA apprenticeship scheme seemed to be ideal.
“Straight away I was impressed by the firm’s positive outlook and commitment to things like Investors in People, and could see myself thriving in that kind of people-focused environment.
“What I love is that although Thomas Westcott is a large regional firm it isn’t so big that you might not get noticed, so there are lots of opportunities to work across many departments, get involved in a bit of everything and have your voice heard.”
He added: “I definitely made the right choice coming here and I’m committed to working hard to achieve my ACA qualification.”
For more information about opportunities go to www.thomaswestcott.co.uk/careers/trainee-chartered-accountant-aca
