Date of issue: 31st October 2006
BUSINESS GROWTH SPURS CLEMENT KEYS TO TAKE ON SIX TRAINEES
Birmingham chartered accountants Clement Keys continues to grow and with a workforce approaching 100 people the firm is making a real commitment to developing the accountants of the future by taking on six new trainees.
Now accredited as an Investor in People organisation, Clement Keys is also restructuring its HR function and has appointed Melanie Parker as personnel manager. She will implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with employment legislation, such as maternity leave and age discrimination, and will put the new trainees through a programme that will enable them to achieve their aim of becoming accountants while also supporting them in their studies for ACA qualifications.
Melanie sits on Clement Keys' health and safety committee and has set about improving the induction process, ensuring staff are fully conversant with employment policies, compliance with legislation and personnel development opportunities.
Melanie's career began with ATS Euromaster and she has gained wide HR experience in roles with Ernst and Young, The Children's Society and Josiah Mason College, where she was assistant personnel and systems manager. Melanie reports to partner Joe Bates, who is responsible for the HR function and was instrumental in Clement Keys securing Investor in People status.
"We have always organised regular appraisals and training for our professional staff, so the accreditation process was not too onerous," says Joe.
"As an Investor in People organisation we are making a positive statement about our commitment to our team. The accolade is considered highly desirable in certain quarters and should stand us in good stead when tendering for public sector work."
The new trainees include; Paul Marchant who graduated from the University of Warwick last year with a BSc (Hons) in Accounting and Finance, Philippa Cooke who joined Clement Keys straight from school after gaining A Levels in Biology, History, Mathematics and General Studies, Leanne Sobratee who left the University of Birmingham this summer with a BSc (Hons) degree in Accounting and Finance, Hannah Wright, another recent Accounting and Finance graduate from the University of Birmingham and Greg Carroll who has a BA (Hons) degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Exeter. Finally, Gurdeep Sahota joins Clement Keys with a BSc in Mathematics and Economics from the London School of Economics.
"Six is quite a sizeable intake of trainees for a firm of our size, but we are committed to developing our practice and are confident our training programme, which is designed to support them as they study for professional qualifications, will work to the benefit of us all," adds Joe Bates.