How long has your firm been training graduates for the ACA qualification?
We have been recruiting graduates to train for the ACA qualification at Barnes Roffe LLP going back to the early 1960s.

Why did you start recruiting and training graduates in this way?
I believe that as a fairly small-sized practice in those days, it was seen as a good way to help the firm grow its own future talent for progression within the firm to assist with the firm’s organic growth and this continues to be the case today as we have grown to be a medium-sized practice in the Top 40 UK firms.

How has your recruitment process adapted to recruiting graduates?
We still maintain some advertising in the main graduate recruitment publications (paper and online), however, due to our size and position in the Top 40 UK Accountancy Firms league tables, we attract a substantial amount of graduate applications directly from internet searches. For a number of years now all of our graduate applications are made to us via our website.

How has your business reacted to having more younger professionals in the workplace?
As the firm has been recruiting graduates for many years, there has always been a young dynamic culture in our offices, which has encouraged enthusiasm and creative thinking.

What support does FI provide to you that allows you to continue to deliver your programme?
We have been with FI for over five years now and have been delighted with both the quality of their learning courses and materials and their personal contact and support. FI has provided a consistently excellent service to assist us in monitoring and managing our graduates. We work with their key points of contact who are always available to provide us support and guidance we require from time to time. We currently have over 50 graduates across the firm with FI. I would have no hesitation in recommending FI to any firm for their graduate training.

FI tailors every client programme to suit your needs. Get in touch with us at clientsupport@fi.co.uk to find out how FI could help you take your trainees to the next level.