Qualified former apprentices join the board at Worcester accountants

Published by

Nicky Godding

Worcester based SW&A Accountants has appointed of two new members to its board of Directors. That's not particularly big news. What is, is that Liz Duggan and Amy Smith joined the firm as apprentices - Liz joined 10 years ago and Amy, who is now just 23, joined six years ago.

Liz Duggan is a Chartered Payroll Manager in the Three Counties Payroll Division at SW&A Accountants. Amy is now a qualified accountant.

Neil Sysum, Managing Director at SW&A Accountants is delighted to welcome Liz and Amy. He said: “This is a fantastic milestone in the history of SW&A Accountants. I can’t begin to tell you how immensely proud I am of Liz and Amy, and their dedication and commitment to the business has been truly inspiring. To start with the company all those years ago as apprentices and now to welcome them to the table as Directors, just shows how giving young and aspiring individuals the opportunity to flourish can transform a business”. He adds, “Liz and Amy will now be instrumental in helping grow the business in 2020 and I wish them all the best for their continued success at SW&A”.

Liz Duggan said: “I’m so proud to be part of the business and I have an amazing team, being part of the board is exciting as we complement each other’s talent and expertise and we can only become stronger in the future”.

Amy added: “I’m privileged and honoured to be invited to the board of such a highly valued and praised team. Running my own firm has always been something I’d dreamt of, but it is such an exciting and amazing opportunity for me both now and for my future”.

Businesses often underestimate just what apprentices can bring to a business and how much this benefits companies, the community and the apprentices themselves. SW&A Accountants who have a long history in recruiting apprentices, continue to work with local colleges with Neil Sysum, as a qualified teacher, to develop the next generation of accountants. SW&A Accountants show how important training and education is through the apprenticeships route and is a vital and viable tool in the Accounting industry, as well as many others.

Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe. After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts. She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.