Four apprentices have started training at the Bristol office of accountancy firm Haines Watts as part of a new partnership with the largest sixth form college in the city.
The St Brendan’s College students have joined Haines Watts Bristol after a series of open day visits convinced them to choose the apprenticeship route, rather than go to university. 
Under the scheme, the first of its kind since the pandemic, three or four apprentice accountants a year will join Haines Watts Bristol from the college.
The first recruits will reach Level 7 of their Accounting and Taxation Professional Apprenticeship over the coming three years, during which they will spend time in each of SME specialist Haines Watts Bristol’s different accounting departments, including accounts and audit, tax and outsourced accounting departments.
The broad range of experiences gained will then enable them to specialise or generalise.
The four apprentices are Kieran Hegarty from Whitchurch, Amaya Reid from Hanham, Lauren Hall from Pucklechurch and Sohaib Rehman from Easton.
Helping recruit the students were qualified Haines Watts accountants Genevieve Crook and Sophia Wallace, who joined the firm from St Brendan’s four years ago at the age of 18.
The firm contacted one of the careers advisers at St Brendan’s, who was also Sophia’s former tutor, and staged talks at the college in April and June encouraging the students to consider apprenticeships.
Sophia said: “We have been really pleased with the level of response. It’s great to be involved with helping young and enthusiastic accountants find an alternative route into the workplace and it’s going to be interesting to see how this cohort develops over the next three or four years.
“This is the first time Haines Watts Bristol has run this scheme to this level and it works well for all parties.
“Clearly lots of young people are considering routes into the workplace which don’t involve university, so we are happy to help encourage those alternative perceptions.”
St Brendan’s Sixth Form College principal Marian Currann, pictured above, said: “We are delighted to be working with Haines Watts and we congratulate our four students on securing their positions with the company.
“There are many routes into the workplace and apprenticeships offer a feasible and often underappreciated means by which to enhance your qualifications and at the same time start a new career.
“We wish Kieran, Amaya, Lauren and Sohaib all the best for the next stage in their professional lives and we look forward to working further with Haines Watts in the future.”
Haines Watts Bristol managing director Matthew Bracher, pictured, said there were many benefits to taking on young accountants who have decided to pursue careers rather than going to university.
“Firstly, anyone who takes on a career at the age of 18 and recognises the long-term advantages of avoiding significant debt is demonstrating a maturity and shrewdness which reflects well on their personality,” he said.
“Those are the type of people we are looking to offer opportunities to, as they see the world in a pragmatic way.
“In addition, we are interested in being able to train young talent in the values and practices we expect at Haines Watts – it is rewarding to see them develop into people who can really advise and help other people. Having a degree doesn’t always give those personal skills that we look for.
“We have an established trainee programme here, as well as manager and partner level development programmes, which works well for us as a business and is a key part of facilitating growth in the SME market, as well as supporting our longer-term ambitions.
“I want to welcome all our new starts and we look forward to seeing their progress.”
Pictured: Haines Watts accountant Sophia Wallace, centre, with new apprentices, from left, Amaya Reid, Sohaib Rehman, Lauren Hall and Kieran Hegarty
