Career Boosting Apprenticeship Success – Worcester City

Apprenticeships offer a pathway for employers to build a talented and skilled future workforce and now there are more incentives for those who use the pathway.

Worcester Accountancy firm, SW&A Accountants are an example of firm who has used the apprenticeship programme to develop their own future management talent.

Former apprentice Amy Smith was named manager of their accountants’ department aged just 23 and later went on to become a director of SW&A Accountants.

Amy finished school in 2012 at which Maths had been one of her strongest subjects. After a period of work experience in an accountancy firm this confirmed Amy’s aspirations for a career in accountancy.

She applied to numerous colleges but after some time Kidderminster College got in touch and offered her an apprenticeship with SW&A accountants. Shortly after attending an interview she was offered a place at SW&A Accountants in Hallow aged 17.

Amy then went on to complete her Association of Accounts Technicians qualifications from level 2 to 4. She has since gone onto study for her Association of Chartered Certified Accountants course as an apprentice.

Amy added, “Put simply, I love my job!

“So many of my friends opted for university because of the student lifestyle.  But an apprenticeship has given me the opportunity to gain qualifications and experience and I’m now a Director of a business at just 23 years old when many of my friends have only left university just a couple of years ago.”

In the Government’s Summer Statement, a range of new support incentives were launched for employers who take on an apprentice with a payment of £2000 to employers who take on a young person between the age of 16-24 in addition to the pre-existing £1000 available for 16-18 year old apprentices.  A grant of £1500 is available for apprentices over the age of 25 or over.

For more information about how to access the apprenticeship support that is available to employers and young people, please contact Worcestershire Apprenticeships by emailing info@worcsapprenticeships.org.uk or calling 0300 666 3 666.