In 1988 when we were having difficulty obtaining staff it was decided to go the “Training” route. Since then five have Qualified with us and have moved onto pastures new. One is now a Senior Manager with KPMG, one in practice on her own, two still in the profession and one in industry. Three of these had a certain amount of difficulty in passing but made it with much encouragement and perserverance. There were only a couple who were taken on and found that it was not for them.

In addition there are seven Chartered Accountants who have trained with the firm and have stayed, three being members of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Three are now partners and certainly another three have signified their wish to become one. Two have continued training by passing the Institute of Taxation exams whilst a third is studying these now. One of these is even going on to take the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioner exams as well.

Although we are perhaps “top heavy” we have decided to continue training as the students keep us up to date with all the new regulations and more pertinently the policy has worked. However we are trying the Association of Accounting Technicians with two students in the hope that on passing they will “Fast track” to Chartered. We also still have two students studying for the Chartered exams.

Unlike many firms who have succession problems ours are different in that we have to keep growing in order to give the youngsters new challenges as most seem to want to stay.

Other perhaps interesting details. Five of the Qualified are female, seven male. Three students are female, one male. Total staff is Thirty two of which sixteen are part-time and twenty are female.