A Norfolk firm with an industry-leading reputation for its apprenticeship and graduate schemes has been named one of the top 100 UK employers for school and college leavers for the second year in a row. Accountants, business advisers and financial planners Lovewell Blake has been ranked in the top ten nationally for accounting and professional services in the UK, and 43rd best employer overall, in a list dominated by large national firms. The Top 100 list was compiled by leading school leaver career website AllAboutSchoolLeavers.co.uk entirely from opinions provided by apprentices and school leaver trainees working in thousands of organisations across the country. The research analysed a wide range of factors, including skills development, career progression, training and company culture. “We are honoured that our commitment to developing the next generation of young professionals has been recognised for the second year running, with our overall ranking up by one place,” said Lovewell Blake HR adviser Vicky Webber. “Our staff work throughout the year with schools across Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to support students who are making the transition from education to the workplace. To be ranked as the 8th best employer in the UK in the accounting and professional services category shows we truly are an industry leader in this field. “The vast majority of those listed in the top 100 are national employers – it goes to show that with the right level of commitment, local and regional employers can compete with the very best in the UK.” Lovewell Blake recruits up to 20 school leavers, college leavers and graduates on an annual basis, with all embarking on professional qualifications or apprenticeships from day one. Those joining from school and college on apprenticeships start the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) or Business Administration qualifications, whilst graduate trainees study for either the Association of Chartered Accountants (ACA) or Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualifications – onto which accountancy apprentices also progress once they have achieved the AAT qualification. Find out more about a career at Lovewell Blake by visiting the careers page.
