ACCA Scotland & Glasgow Caledonian University internship programme boosts local skills pipeline

Finance & accounting students at Glasgow Caledonian University will have the opportunity to develop their workplace skills with local business thanks to a new paid internship programme with ACCA Scotland.

The programme, which saw 60 students compete for 12 internships, runs from June 18 until September.

Employers signed up to offer places include Arnold Clark, French Duncan, Alexander Sloan, Clyde Blowers Capital and Milne Craig.

Students were able to sign up for the programme by registering with ACCA’s Accelerate university route. Following an assessment day held in April, the chosen students attended a two day business challenge event ran by Kaplan.

The Business Challenge gives the students the chance to experience a business simulation where they compete against other teams using a range of skills which they will require in business such as strategy and commercvial awareness.

Craig Vickery, head of ACCA Scotland, said: “We repeatedly hear from businesses and students that they wish there were more opportunities to gain real world work experience. Therefore it is great to work with Glasgow Caledonian to provide structured internships that are tailored around the student needs and offer them insights into the challenges of local business.

“This is also an excellent opportunity for local businesses to engage with some of the brightest emerging finance talent. As Generation Next move increasingly the fore, employers need to learn how to attract and retain this demographic.”

Allan Dowie FCCA, Group CFO of employer Clyde Blowers Capital, said: “It is great to be able to develop the next generation of talent by giving them first-hand experience of the modern workplace. The students taking part in the scheme are talented, hard-working and ambitious: I hope this provides them with a springboard to a highly successful career.”

Eddie Thompson, lecturer in accounting at Glasgow Caledonian University, said: “As a university we are deeply committed to ensuring our students have the best opportunities to thrive in careers alongside their academic study. The chance to work alongside a globally-recognised professional body such as ACCA as well as local employers is a unique opportunity for our students to accelerate their employability skills.

“The keen competition among students highlights how seriously they value this aspect of their university experience and I wish them all the best in their endeavours.”