Sponsored Content: Here Jane Tunnicliff, NSCG’s Group Head of Employer Engagement & Training talks to DPC Chartered Accountants to get their view on hiring apprentices.
Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group have worked with DPC Chartered Accountants for a number of years for their apprenticeship requirements and currently have 13 apprentices working for them.
DPC Chartered Accountants is a well-known Staffordshire firm of chartered accountants and business advisers based in Stone. DPC Chartered Accountants are part of The DPC Group Limited, built on over 80 years’ experience.
We spoke to Rachel Hughes, People & Culture Manager at DPC to get her view on how employing apprentices helps to shape the business.
Rachel said “We have been investing into apprenticeships since 2008. The foundation of our people first culture is to create a positive working environment where our people feel happy and supported. Part of how we do this is through people development. For our accountancy-based roles, that means developing apprentice’s technical skills and knowledge so that they can become chartered.
There is also a shortage of qualified accountants, so we recognise the need to grow and develop our own talent.
Apprenticeships provide a structured and supportive pathway for this. It allows our firm to recruit raw trainees, develop their skills and knowledge and rotate them across the practice so that they gain a breadth as well as depth of knowledge. This results in the creation of a rounded Business Advisor and is critical to the Company continuing to provide a best-in-class client service. “
How does taking on an apprentice differ from the traditional recruitment route?
Rachel said: “Apprentices require an investment of time as typically; they have limited work experience and knowledge. On a day-to-day basis, they are allocated to a training buddy who helps to cement their apprenticeship knowledge through on-the-job training – allocation of work tasks, review of work, timely feedback, and teaching internal processes and how to use software and systems. They also need support with their soft skills such as communication, time management, team work etc. Over time this investment is returned as we retain our apprentices and support their ongoing training and development.
What were your reasons for using NSCG to recruit an apprentice?
Rachel said; “We chose to work with NSCG due to proximity to our offices and their reputation.”
What are your experiences of using NSCG and their Apprenticeship Hub Team?
Rachel said:” Very positive. The College is supportive of both students and employers and the quality of their teaching and workplace assessors is outstanding. Since 2021, all trainees who chose to continue with their apprenticeship have successfully passed.
The HUB Team have been helpful with arranging for us to attend large and small recruitment events and promoting our vacancies.”
Would you recommend an apprenticeship through NSCG to others? Please give reasons
Rachel said: “Yes – excellent college for both apprentices and employers – quality of teaching, regular constructive feedback, support (from a course and wellbeing perspective), modern facilities, dedicated Apprenticeship Hub.”
How are your apprentices doing at the moment?
Rachel said: “Of our 13 AAT apprentices:
- 3 are working towards their EPA (End Point Assessment) and will become semi-senior accountants once they complete their AAT. They are likely to continue their professional studies under level 7 apprenticeships to become fully qualified and chartered accountants.
- 5 are part way through their AAT studies and progressing well.
- 5 joined the firm in July and have enrolled with the college to start their AAT level 2 apprenticeships in September.”
Rachel asked a few of her apprentices for feedback, here’s what they said:
“The key skills I have learned so far are professionalism from dealing with clients daily and organisation – having to process payroll records and reports that are deadline driven.”
“The key skills I have learned so far are preparing small sets of accounts and communication. My role requires me to liaise with clients regularly by phone and email. This has helped my confidence to grow too.”
“The key skills I have learned so far are time management through balancing studies and work. This has been enhanced further by being allocated my own workload and having to manage and prioritise my tasks. My technical skills have developed through learning the basics at college and then being able to implement them practically at work.”
For more information on how hiring an apprentice can benefit your business contact the Apprenticeship Hub team on 01782 254287 (Newcastle) or 01785 275660 (Stafford) or click here to complete a contact form and a member of the Hub Team will be in touch.
