Campbell Dallas to invest £250k in 2016 apprentices

One of the largest providers of accountancy apprenticeships in Scotland, Campbell Dallas has focused on developing and retaining young talent in response to a major shortage of skilled young people across the accountancy profession.

In recognition of the firm’s commitment to young talent, the firm has now been awarded the highest level of Investors in Young People Accreditation, the only people management standard that focuses on an employer’s recruitment and retention of young people.

Chris Horne, managing partner of Campbell Dallas, said: “The accountancy profession is struggling to attract, develop and retain young people, and is losing too many to competing sectors offering graduate programmes, such as financial services. Attracting university trainees is a major problem for the long term sustainability of the profession and will impact on succession planning in the near future. Three years ago we set a strategy to focus on attracting and training school leavers, and I am pleased to say it has been very successful for the apprentices and for the firm.

“Since we began the apprenticeship programme we calculate that the firm has invested well over £1 million in employing, training, and development of staff. In return we are growing our own talent, and ensuring our clients have consistency and continuity of service. It is a model that is working for our firm, and could benefit the profession in Scotland if adopted on a wider basis.”