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Apprentices drive success at fast-growing Fintech firm

With the tenth annual National Apprenticeship Week taking place this week week (6-10 March) and a new apprenticeship levy being introduced in April, one Darlington-based firm has made sure its talented young apprentices are playing an important role in the rapid growth and global expansion of the business.

Darlington-based MyFirmsApp, which runs the world’s largest custom App platforms for accountancy and legal firms, has ensured apprenticeships are a key part of its recruitment strategy since its launch in 2013 – and is now reaping rewards.

To honour its work with apprentices, MyFirmsApp has been recently shortlisted for the Apprenticeship Award in the North East Business Awards 2017, which recognises organisations implementing apprenticeship schemes as an integral part of developing their workforce and business.

In just three years, the Company has built up a 900-strong global client list, 200,000 end-users and a presence in the UK, Australia, South Africa, the US and Ireland. MyFirmsApp is expecting more and more growth as Apps go mainstream and become adopted by businesses around the world.

Integral to its success to date has been a loyal, passionate and highly energetic team of experienced staff, who are happy to help train and develop apprentices. This blend has created a great working environment and is important to the firm’s success, says CEO Joel Oliver, whose own career was forged via an apprenticeship rather than going to college or university.

“There are many different routes to finding a job you enjoy which is also rewarding, and to developing a successful career,” he says. “The common route of ‘school, college and university’ works for some but not all and we think it’s helpful and motivating for people to know there are other ways.

“For some, it’s about being hands-on and learning on the job and this is what I appreciated the most in my apprenticeship. Personally I found learning in a classroom a real challenge and my apprenticeship gave me a unique opportunity to discover my natural abilities in business, which opened up numerous doors for me.”

MyFirmsApp, which employs 30 people including three apprentices with three others having already completed their training, offers apprenticeships in sales and marketing, software development, App design and build as well as general business admin.

Joel says: “It’s particularly exciting to be creating these jobs in an area that’s synonymous with an industrial revolution; we are now the first Fintech company in Darlington at the forefront of this new technological revolution.”

The CEO believes apprentices bring a range of benefits to an organisation, including a sense of creativity unspoiled by a corporate outlook or agenda, a willingness to learn, tech-savviness and long-term loyalty.

“We value our apprentices so highly that we ensure each one is placed into a role that directly shapes our shared future,” he says.

Among the recent crop of apprentices to join MyFirmsApp is 19-year-old Ben Hardy, who saw the Company’s apprenticeship offering as a route into an exciting career in software development.

Ben, who completed his apprenticeship in November and managed a team of six as part of his training, says: “I chose to do an apprenticeship because I was put off by the cost of university and didn’t think it was worth the outcome. A degree these days is fast becoming meaningless and a lot more companies are now looking for work experience above all else.

“Apprenticeships help to get young people into work and give them the experience of a job as well as teaching them specific skills. Schools or universities don’t really offer that anymore and, living in a society where everyone is looking for experience. It’s the perfect way to get into a job.”

Fellow MyFirmsApp apprentice Luke Jenkinson is already well on the way to a successful career in the technology sector despite being just 16.

He says: “Apprenticeships provide a great experience in a working environment before taking an actual job. Some people may prefer to just get right into work rather than go to college, so this is halfway between the two. There is a really nice environment at the Company and I’m doing something I actually want to do.”

Digital Marketing Apprentice Joe Crees, 21, is similarly positive about choosing the apprenticeship route over other options such as higher education.

“MyFirmsApp is a fast growing company with huge potential for the future,” he says. “I don’t know exactly what the future holds but it certainly looks very bright career-wise.”

MyFirmsApp recently received a £130,000 grant from the Let’s Grow Campaign as it targets a five-fold increase in end-users to one million by 2019. It is now recruiting for new members of staff, while also looking to fill apprenticeship positions.

The Company which works with North East businesses including Clive Owen, Harlands and Certex Durham to build their business using this new technology, has seen the app named ‘Best New Online App’ by US publication Accounting Today.

For more information on the firm – which is endorsed by a number of industry bodies and networks, including, ICAEW, ICPA and 2020 - visit the website. For job opportunities email jobs@myfirmsapp.com.

Follow MyFirmsApp on Twitter.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by MyFirmsApp .