A top Staffordshire accountancy firm is looking to take on extra staff – but it has been hit by the county-wide recruitment crisis.
Leek-based tax specialists LSGK Accountants Ltd are seeking fresh faces to help meet mushrooming demand.
However, despite offering an attractive salary package, they are still struggling to fill the posts on offer.
Their experience reflects that of many employers across the region who say they are suffering from a recruitment shortfall.
A Staffordshire County Council survey last month showed the number of job vacancies in the county has increased to more than 30,000 – up nearly a third in just a month.
The labour market remains very tight and businesses are struggling to find the labour and skills that they require.
LSGK’s recruitment drive comes in response to a big upturn in the demand for their services such as self-assessment online tax returns, VAT returns, capital gains and inheritance tax calculations and corporate tax returns.
Director Jed Eatough said: “I realise the jobs market is difficult across the board. Despite offering a competitive salary, benefits and the option of flexible working we are still finding it difficult to fill our vacancies.
“We have lost a few staff due to retirement and change in lifestyle and I am hoping that measures in the Budget to encourage working mums and older workers back to the workforce will help ease the situation locally and nationally.
“We did take on an apprentice last year through Buxton & Leek College and that’s working out really well. He has a great work ethic and is keen to make a career in accountancy.
“However, it takes a few years to get an apprentice up to full fee-earning capacity and it’s now that we need additional talent to service our growing number of clients.”
The latest Quarterly Recruitment Outlook compiled by the British Chambers of Commerce recorded the worst difficulties in recruiting since the survey began in 1989.
