Two major accountancy firms with offices in Bath have been praised for their commitment to apprenticeships.
Monahans, the region’s largest chartered accountancy and advisory firm, has been recognised as a Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employer, a scheme that celebrates England’s outstanding small and medium-sized businesses that are committed to creating new apprenticeships.
It also showcases the diversity of the firms’ apprentices along with the number of apprentices who successfully pass through their schemes.
Monahans, which has 10 offices, including Bath, Chippenham, Trowbridge and Frome, was ranked 24th out of 50 firms, seventh among all professional services businesses, and the top professional services firm in the South West.
Meanwhile, Bishop Fleming is celebrating a triple success after receiving an Outstanding rating from Ofsted’s first full inspection of its apprenticeship provision, along with a string of other accolades.
It is one of just 18 providers to have achieved Outstanding status so far this year and only the second accountancy firm to do so.
Monahans said developing and expanding its apprenticeship scheme had long been a focus for the firm as part of its aim to invest in the local community and build out its talent pipeline.
Since initiating the scheme, Monahans’ regular intake has grown significantly with a record number of apprenticeships completed in the past 12 months.
Most of the firm’s trainees come through its apprenticeship scheme via one of two streams – either straight from school, as a Level 3 apprentice, or after university, when they begin a Level 7 apprenticeship – the equivalent of a Master’s degree.
One of the key benefits of Monahans’ approach is that apprentices can gain experience in an office environment and receive on-the-job training, all while earning the National Living Wage.
Candidates also receive ongoing support from external learning providers throughout the process and have time built into their schedules for off-the-job training, facilitating the time and headspace necessary to develop essential skills for their next career step.
Monahans said it was seeing the benefit of its ‘grow your own talent’ approach amid a competitive job environment, as well gaining from the new ideas and fresh perspectives that younger generations can offer in terms of business operations. And as the firm grows – it has an ambition to quadruple its turnover over the next five years – it plans to expand its apprenticeship offering to further enhance its talent pipeline and ability to deliver the best service possible.
Monahans technical learning and development manager Ellie McQuade, pictured above, said: “Our team is proud to receive this recognition following such a successful 12 months for our apprenticeship scheme.
“We know that accountancy offers an exciting and stable career path, but it can be difficult to get the message out in such a highly competitive jobs market, so this ranking reinforces the prospects for the next generation of talent.”
Bishop Fleming’s Ofsted inspection lasted three days, with the team visiting several of its offices, meeting with various learning and development (L&D) team members, apprentices and their managers.
They examined five areas – quality of education, personal development, behaviours and attitudes, leadership and management, and apprenticeships, grading all as Outstanding.
Bishop Fleming partner and chief people officer Anna Averis, pictured, said: “We are thrilled to receive this recognition for our leading apprenticeship programme, which is now officially rated among the very best in UK.
“As one of only a few accounting firms to have been awarded Employer-Provider status, we have been able to develop and deliver our own tailored apprenticeship programme, so to have this independent recognition is testament to the hard work of my team and our brilliant apprentices.
“Our programme is now delivering real results and is integral to our wider business growth ambitions.”
The Outstanding Ofsted rating comes on the back of Bishop Fleming celebrating its recognition among some of the largest organisations in the UK in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers List for 2024 co-developed by the Department for Education.
Bishop Fleming also has offices in Bristol, Cheltenham, Exeter, Plymouth, Torquay, Truro and Worcester.
