24 Aug 2023

Welcome to our new apprentices!

A new cohort of 55 graduates, school leavers and career changers are starting their careers in accountancy and tax with Top 100 Apprenticeship employer PKF Francis Clark.

Based across our offices in Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Poole, Salisbury, Taunton, Torquay and Truro, the new apprentices had a chance to get to know each other during a two-day induction at the University of Exeter before starting their journey to becoming qualified chartered accountants or tax advisers.

Head of leadership development Phil Ball runs a session for our new apprentices (All photos: GRW Photography)

“Growing our own talent is an important part of our culture, so we look forward to supporting our new trainees to gain the breadth and depth of skills and experience that will set them up for a successful and rewarding career.” Andrew Richards, Managing partner

“The number and calibre of applications we received for our apprenticeship programmes was hugely encouraging and reflects the work we are doing with schools, colleges and universities to bust myths about our profession and inspire talented young people to pursue careers in accountancy and tax. For example, you don’t need to study maths or accounting and finance to join our graduate apprenticeship scheme – our new recruits studied subjects as diverse as classics, law, exercise and nutrition, human genetics and sustainable production design. What we look for above all is aptitude, a willingness to learn and the ability to build trusted relationships with clients.”

Our new trainee accountants and tax advisers include graduates from the universities of Exeter, Bristol, Plymouth and the West of England, as well as recent leavers from Exeter College, Bridgwater & Taunton College, Richard Huish College in Taunton and Devonport High School for Girls in Plymouth. There are also a number of career changers, including two former teachers and another who was previously in the army. Our new recruits studied subjects as diverse as classics, law, exercise and nutrition, human genetics and sustainable production design.

As well as being certified as a Great Place to Work, PKF Francis Clark is ranked 28th on this year’s list of England’s Top 100 Apprenticeship employers by the Department of Education and High Fliers Research.

We offer three main entry routes for accountancy and tax trainees:

PKF Francis Clark is ranked as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces for Women, who make up 28 of our 55 new apprentices.

Applications for our 2024 apprenticeship programme will open in September.

Find out more about careers at PKF Francis Clark.

Get in touch

Related insights

A family business owner with his two adult sons. The man has his arms around his two adult sons who are holding a pint of cider each. They are all smiling and chatting. The setting is in a brewery.

Succession planning tips for family businesses

17 September 2025

Read
A female construction worker if safety gear stands on scaffolding, smiling as she holds on to to a metal bar.

Construction industry scheme and IR35: are you compliant or at risk?

17 September 2025

Read
business people sit around a table and one, a man stands talking, they are in a modern office and all wearing smart suits

Corporate criminal offence (CCO): As enforcement activity ramps up, is your business ready?

16 September 2025

Read

Will planning ahead of APR / BPR changes: Understanding the tax implications

15 September 2025

Read
The full PKF Francis Clark accounting and tax trainee intake

Welcome to our latest accountancy and tax trainees

10 September 2025

Read
Two colleagues deep in thought discussing what they see on a laptop

Understanding PAYE settlement agreements

10 September 2025

Read

Case study: The impact of inheritance tax on pensions after April 2027

8 September 2025

Read

What is business property relief? A summary guide for UK business owners

3 September 2025

Read
A coffee shop worker fills in paper work while sated at a high bar.

R&D claim notification form: Deadline approaching for March year ends

1 September 2025

Read

100 colleagues and counting for our Bristol office

1 September 2025

Read
A family of five walking down a muddy path on a farm, with cows in the background.

Could your trust face unexpected inheritance tax charges?

28 August 2025

Read
Employees of an international law firm sitting at a large table in a well-lit conference room.

Payrolling benefits in kind changes: How to prepare early for HMRC changes 

27 August 2025

Read