Armstrong Watson welcomes record apprentice intake

North East accountancy firm Armstrong Watson has expanded its apprenticeship programme, taking on more than 30 trainees – its largest Level 4 intake to date.

This September, 26 new students started the AAT course, while eight began the ATT, up from 28 trainees in 2024. 

The appointments were celebrated at the firm’s ‘Your Journey Starts Here’ event in Carlisle, where trainees from across the UK heard from colleagues who had progressed through the same courses. 

Applications for the 2026 cohort are now open.

Trainees, based across the North of England and Scotland, gain hands-on experience in business services and tax compliance while completing classroom study. 

Those who qualify can then progress to ACA or CTA graduate schemes, working toward Chartered Accountant or Chartered Tax adviser status.

This year, Armstrong Watson also welcomed 43 new graduate trainees working toward Level 7 apprenticeship qualifications. 

The firm has strengthened its presence with acquisitions, including Gibbons Accountants in Cumbria, and Glasgow-based practices Parkhill Mackie & Co and Martin Aitken, adding 170 staff and more clients to its portfolio.

Chief executive and managing partner Paul Dickson said: “We are once again delighted to welcome our new trainees to the business. 

“We strongly believe in growing our own talent and continue to invest in our training programme year on year, taking on more trainees as our business continues to grow.

“Our people are our businesses, providing solutions to our clients, and our training programme gives them an incredible foundation on which to build a successful career.

“With 19 offices across the North of England and Scotland and several different service lines supporting our clients, there’s a huge range of scope for career direction and development available to those who choose to join us on this exciting journey.”

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →