Investing in Talent and Building Careers

The past twelve months have been a period of significant growth for both our Blackburn and Bolton offices, reflecting our ongoing commitment to investing in talent.

Traditionally, we welcome two apprentices each year, but in 2024, we took a bold step forward by expanding our apprenticeship program, bringing on an incredible 11 new apprentices taking our total across the Group to 23! This exciting development highlights our dedication to nurturing future professionals and strengthening our team for continued success.

As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week 2025, we understand how apprenticeships are crucial in shaping the next generation of accounting professionals, providing hands-on experience and valuable learning opportunities.

Let us introduce you to some of our talented individuals.

Harvey is currently completing the ACA Qualification to become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.

The qualification includes three levels; Certificate, Professional and Advanced each containing six, six and three modules respectively (15 in total).

So far, he has completed the six modules at the Certificate level and just passed the first two exams at the Professional level.

What skills or experiences have you gained during your apprenticeship that you didn’t expect?

Along with developing knowledge of the various areas of accountancy and useful skills such as greater flexibility and perseverance to overcome tricky exams and tougher areas of the courses, I have found that I have developed a greater level of independence and self-responsibility since starting my apprenticeship.

Being trusted to attend college and manage my revision outside of usual working hours has allowed me to undertake a greater level of responsibility for achieving the qualification despite Pierce offering support in various forms if there are any struggles along the way. In a sense, this has allowed me to act more professionally and as a grown-up within the profession rather than an apprentice who is guided all of the way along the qualification.

How do you balance hands-on work with learning and training?

I find it incredibly important to remain as flexible as possible when planning my schedule and to always keep on top of managing my time and workload at the start of each week. Given an upcoming month may include a combination of days working in the office, attending audits at client offices or going into Manchester to attend college lessons, being able to manage my hours within the week is vital to ensuring that I can meet all the requirements of my role.

What has been the most rewarding part of your apprenticeship journey so far?

Definitely opening my exam results and seeing the pass message next to the score has been the most rewarding part of the journey so far and to have seen it eight times has made me immensely proud of my progression.

Ethan is currently in our Online Services Team working towards an ACA Qualification. He is in the process of doing the Certificate Level Exams which can take 3 - 4 years and consists of 15 exams.

What skills or experiences have you gained during your apprenticeship that you didn’t expect?

I have gained many skills in a short time. One of the main skills I’ve been able to develop is communication and confidence. These have been developed through being given opportunities to have a hands-on approach to many jobs – such as handling client responsibilities e.g. VAT returns and bookkeeping and maintaining up-to-date communication where necessary, involving regular meetings with clients.

What has been the most rewarding part of your apprenticeship journey so far?

I would say the most rewarding part of my apprenticeship so far has been the experience it has allowed me to gain, through having regular involvement in high-important jobs and constantly facing new tasks/challenges. It has meant that I’ve been exposed to a variety of issues that can arise – and fixing them has involved understanding and learning new skills and gaining the experience to do this only comes from working on the job. And the money of course is nice as well.

What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship in your field?

I believe an apprenticeship is an excellent route into the accountancy profession. The benefits are invaluable, providing hands-on experience, a steady income, and industry connections that help lay a strong foundation for future career success. It’s a fantastic way to gain practical skills while working towards your goals.

Matthew works in our Bolton office and completed the Level 2 AAT in December. He is due to start the Level 3 qualification in March. 

Level 2 consists of 2 modules and took Matthew 3 months to complete and the Level 3 has 6 modules with an estimated completion of 12 months.

What inspired you to choose an apprenticeship, and how is it shaping your career?

I chose an apprenticeship because it gives me theoretical knowledge and the opportunity to apply this in my work. They complement each other which has helped me improve my knowledge massively in the short time I’ve been here.

What skills or experiences have you gained during your apprenticeship that you didn’t expect?

Throughout my apprenticeship, the most valuable skill I’ve developed is establishing a strong routine. Managing work deadlines and exam preparation effectively has taught me the importance of planning and structure to achieve my goals.

What has been the most rewarding part of your apprenticeship journey so far?

Meeting and learning from people with all different kinds of experience and knowledge at work and college and being able to apply this when coming across new problems.

Shauna completed the AAT Level 4 in May 2024 and has since completed all the Certificate Level exams. From March, Shauna will commence studying for the Professional exams before progressing to the Advanced Level which she is due to complete in July 2027.

Each stage of the ICAEW exams consists of 6 modules, however, Shauna only had to complete two modules for the Certificate Level due to prior learning exemptions.

What inspired you to choose an apprenticeship, and how has it shaped your career so far?

After sixth form, I was offered a place at university to study mathematics and at the time I was unsure about whether this was the correct move for me, instead I much preferred the idea of working, learning on the job and earning money at the same time. Learning on the job allows you to develop certain skills that study only cannot provide, such as communication skills in a professional environment.

What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship in your field?

I highly recommend an accountancy apprenticeship and strongly believe that an apprenticeship will set you up with a wide range of skills and abilities that other learning streams may not as your studies can be applied to your day-to-day work, further enhancing understanding.

How has your apprenticeship prepared you for your future career goals?

My apprenticeship has prepared me for my future career goals by providing me with in-depth knowledge of VAT returns, bookkeeping, management accounts, year-end accounts and tax returns through both practical on-the-job training and studies, I do not believe I would have the same knowledge if I had decided to go to university before moving to the industry so this should set me up well for the future.