RGU’s graduate accountancy programme partners with local firm

The Aberdeen chartered accountancy firm has signed up to Robert Gordon University’s (RGU) Graduate Apprenticeships scheme.

RGU, in collaboration with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS), is the only university in Scotland to offer a Graduate Apprenticeship (GA) in Accountancy, with 40 places available.

The programme, developed by Skills Development Scotland (SDS), combines work-based and academic learning over five years. Around 180 fully-funded GA places will be available across a range of disciplines, including business management, construction, engineering and data science.

Mark Brown, audit, accounts and business assurance partner at Meston Reid & Co, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Robert Gordon University on this innovative accountancy programme. We are offering the opportunity for two people with university entry-level qualifications to earn a salary, while at the same time working towards recognised accountancy qualifications and developing their careers.”

Meston Reid & Co has a track record of supporting the next generation. The firm has accepted placement students from Robert Gordon University’s accountancy and finance degree in all but two of the past 20 years.

Virtually all of the firm’s students have enjoyed exam success, including Jenny Robertson who joined Meston Reid & Co after being named Robert Gordon University Best Final Year Student in Accounting and Finance BA (Hons) in 2016. In February it was announced she had won the Archie Hunter Prize for her performance in the Test of Professional Expertise paper – her final ICAS exam before formal qualification as a chartered accountant.  She came out on top of 624 chartered accountancy trainees from Scotland and England that sat the exam.

The Graduate Apprenticeship programme has been developed by SDS in partnership with employers, universities, colleges and professional bodies to create stronger links between education and industry. The growth of Graduate Apprenticeships supports the Scottish Government’s ambition to create 30,000 apprenticeship jobs a year by 2020.

The development of Graduate Apprenticeships has focused on a range of sectors that have a need for highly skilled jobs. In order to allow apprentices to spend most of their time in the workplace, RGU provides the majority of the course online.