16 BusinessEast Monthly East Anglian Daily Times Tuesday, October 17, 2017 www.eadt.co.uk

Sector skills report: Finance and business Opportunities in the finance In partnership with County Council, Business East Monthly is running a series of reports aimed at informing young people about the career opportunities that exist in the region and the skills required to make the most of these openings. This month we provide an overview of the finance and business sector featuring interviews with employers, employees and education experts.

Q&A – SUE BARNES, DIRECTOR, UK RETAIL, WILLIS TOWERS WATSON ‘We are a people-centred business and excellent interpersonal skills are essential’

Willis Towers Watson is a global willingness to learn… so quite a lot! multinational risk management, insurance brokerage and advisory How do you recruit this talent? company that operates in 140 countries We have a mixed approach to and has a major office in . recruitment, taking on school leavers and graduates alongside targeted What is the current state of the recruitment of more experienced finance sector in East Anglia? individuals. This is a growing sector locally with We have invested heavily in growing recognised locational centres and our own talent over a number of years knowledge sectors, combined with and work closely with our internal improving communication recruiters who support us with this. infrastructure. We see individuals We also utilise specialist recruitment relocating into this area and, as there agencies to ensure we attract the right is a market here, it encourages further mix of talent so that our skill sets growth. continue to meet the demands of our Our local universities are focusing growing business. more on sector-related degrees and recent surveys show Ipswich is the best What initiatives do you have in place in the UK for SME businesses; place? Norwich is recognised as the best We recently recruited our first batch of place to live and Cambridge is the best apprentices in September, which has place for technology companies and fed directly off the back of our previous highly qualified staff. All very successful school leavers initiatives. encouraging to support growth within Our original target was 23, however our locality. our intake has increased to 39 due to increased business demand, which in What roles are you looking to fill? itself shows the value placed on this. We continue to recruit into all areas of Examples of the breadth of the our business in roles that interact scheme include HR, business analyst, directly with clients and markets at all sales degree, workplace pensions levels. Colleagues in our Ipswich administrator, insurance professional, location play a pivotal role in directly actuarial and electro-technical servicing our clients, as well as installation electrician performing traditional broking apprenticeships. activities. We also have close relationships with Their activities are not just within our local universities with the relevant the local area but also extend to alumni within Willis Towers Watson and the global markets. assisting to attract talent into our We also have large teams based here Ipswich location. Their activities providing human resources, IT and include attending careers fairs, finance capabilities. holding insight days and arranging internships - all of which feed our What specific skills are you looking recruitment pipeline. for? ■ Visit the Willis Towers Watson team We are a people-centred and at the Suffolk Skills Show at Trinity relationship-focused business and Park on October 18 therefore excellent interpersonal skills are absolutely essential. Equally important is a sound knowledge of all the component parts of insurance placement, structure and risk transfer mechanisms. Balance these with analytical ability, IT capability, digital agility, an enquiring mind, and a Willis Towers Watson’s new apprentices. Picture: GREGG BROWN East Anglian Daily Times Tuesday, October 17, 2017 BusinessEast Monthly 17 www.eadt.co.uk and business sector

Q&A - RICHARD NORRINGTON, CEO, IPSWICH BUILDING SOCIETY ‘Our employees need to genuinely care about the communities in which we operate...’

Ipswich Building Society plays a big part in decision attitudes and behaviours – we internships - this summer we employs 135 staff in nine making. want our staff to demonstrate hosted a student from the branches across Suffolk with Around half of our the Ipswich Building Society University of Suffolk Business headquarters in Ipswich employees work within our brand. They need to deliver School. branch network, staffing our great service, both to members In addition, we work with What is the current state of nine locations within Suffolk. and colleagues, and genuinely local schools for work the finance sector in East The remainder are based at our care about the communities in experience, career fairs and Ipswich head office, based on which we operate. also under the Enterprise Anglia? Ransomes Europark, and carry We also have more technical Adviser Network we have With recent headlines and a out all of our back office skills which we look for, such members of staff actively Which? report about closing operations, from mortgage as industry experience and / or engaging with school bank branches you’d be underwriting to HR. qualifications, depending on leadership teams to increase forgiven for thinking the East the role on offer. opportunities for young people. Anglian finance sector is One area we do focus on is What roles are you looking declining. And, although How do you recruit this our well-established financial there might be a reduced to fill and why? education programme for presence of financial services The majority of our job talent? primary and secondary We believe the utopia is a mix on the high streets, at the vacancies tend to be within our schools, which teaches vital life of beginners, intermediates Ipswich Building Society we’re branch network, due to the skills. We believe financial and experts – a blend of bucking the trend and number of staff we need to keep independence is one of the most employees who have experience investing in improved our nine branches running. important things to grasp from and skills, but also fresh premises for two of our branch We are often recruiting to fill an early age. thinking and enthusiasm. locations – Ipswich town centre Saturday vacancies, usually on and Woodbridge. an annual basis when our ■ Find out more about In general consumers are latest youth cohort go off to What initiatives do you have Ipswich Building Society at increasingly ethically aware university. in place? www.icanbea.org.uk and seeking out ‘locally We have appointed apprentices sourced’ options, which we’ve What specific skills are you in many areas, both in also seen within our sector. branches and head office. At Looking back to the 2007 looking for in the long to head office this has included financial crises, there is now medium term? roles in finance, marketing, more awareness of business Generally, we look for support services and IT. Richard Norrington, chief executive officer at practices and the trust factor employees who have the right We have also offered Ipswich Building Society.

The apprentice ‘They were looking for someone with enthusiasm and personality...’

Darren Norman, 24, joined would be better going into work. a wide range of tasks such as a good interview. My manager services and all aspects of Ipswich Building Society over My first jobs were in retail, a looking after the building and the said that the skills required for mortgage practice three years ago as an apprentice sector I worked in for a couple of mailing and post area, and the job could be taught but what I’ve also recently obtained my with the Support Services team. years, but I had always wanted an contacting suppliers for lighting they were looking for was underwriting mandate, which On completion of the office-based role and when I saw and plumbing if there were any someone with enthusiasm and means I can approve a mortgage apprenticeship he was offered a the Ipswich Building Society issues. personality – and that I had sold loan to a certain amount. full time role within the team and apprenticeship opportunity I myself in the interview. At the moment, I am just keen has since been successful in his applied and was lucky enough to How has your career I have been a trainee mortgage to hone my knowledge. It’s a very application for the position be successful. progressed? underwriter now for a year and big industry and is likely to of trainee mortgage I joined Ipswich Building After completion of my half, and in that time I have involve continuous learning underwriter. Society as an apprentice in April apprenticeship I stayed in a learnt a lot of things. throughout my career. 2014. It was an apprenticeship in support services role for about a I started off working in the How did get your first support services administration, year, but I knew that at some administration and processing Any advice for young people job with Ipswich which also gave me an NVQ point I would like to move into a department and gained looking to get in the finance Building Society? Level 2 in business and more financial role. knowledge of the various stages of sector? Before joining Ipswich administration where I would I saw the position of trainee a mortgage application- where it I would say that you don’t always Building Society, I learn on the job and an mortgage underwriter advertised starts and ends. have to go to university to secure took A-levels at assessor would come internally and decided to apply. I I’ve also learnt about lending a good job. There are Suffolk One. I into see me from time had no knowledge of the mortgage policies and am studying towards opportunities out there but in originally to time. business but I did a lot of research a Certificate in Mortgage Advice many cases you have to be wanted to go to It saw me working before the interview and and Practice (CeMaP), which is a prepared to start from the bottom university but in a support services ultimately was successful. comprehensive qualification that and have the drive and passion to then decided I role which involved I was told later that I had given covers the regulation of financial get there. 18 BusinessEast Monthly East Anglian Daily Times Tuesday, October 17, 2017 www.eadt.co.uk

Sector skills report: Finance and business ‘Numeric agility is important but it’s not just about numbers...’

Nick Banks, business advisory our East Anglian offices, ranging to recruit school leavers and partner at Scrutton Bland, a from apprenticeships and trainee offer apprenticeships each year financial services firm working positions to technical management with a summer start date, in tax, accounting, employee roles. All our departments have however we are also always benefits and independent financial been expanding and our new office looking out for technically advice. in Cambridge has also created experienced people which is an additional opportunities. ongoing process. What is the current state of the We go out to job fairs and this finance sector in East Anglia? What specific skills are you year are inviting local schools to The finance sector is buoyant – we looking for? our Colchester offices to see are experiencing strong demand Numeric agility is obviously first-hand what we do. for our services. important when working for a Despite Brexit there is financial services business, but it’s What initiatives do you have in confidence; existing clients are certainly not just about numbers place? investing in their own businesses - we need people with good We offer apprenticeships for or seeking to acquire, as that is the interpersonal skills in order to accountancy and tax students as best way to get a return on their build strong relationships with well as offering bespoke capital. We are also seeing much clients and colleagues. management training for those more emphasis on workplace Technology in the finance sector coming through to qualification. wellbeing. We have a well- is fast paced, so being comfortable We also offer internships and established training programme and knowledgeable with this is placements for graduates. Our which enables us to develop our important. training programme enables us to people to bridge the skills gap but How we interact with clients is develop our people to bridge the there is always a strong demand changing so we need people who skills gap but there is strong for experienced audit seniors and are up to speed with social media. demand for experienced audit financial advisory para-planners. seniors and financial advisory How do you recruit this talent? para-planners. What roles are you looking to Do you take on school leavers, fill and why? apprentices or experienced I Find out more about Scrutton Bland is currently workers? What is the mix? opportunities at Scrutton Bland at recruiting for eleven roles across At Scrutton Bland we always like www.scruttonbland.co.uk/

‘Internships and work experience placements are a great opportunity for individuals to gain experience...’

Becky Ames, partner at Larking considerable opportunities for work is ever-changing due to the focused, with good problem solving We invest in our talent and Gowen, a chartered accountant forward-thinking, pro-active advent of new technological skills and are excellent provide full support to achieve and business advisory firm accountants. developments, including cloud- communicators. professional qualifications, be that operating across East Anglia . based technology, and for an apprentice joining with What roles are you looking to increasing How do you recruit this talent? minimal experience, to assisting What is the current state of fill and why? automation When we have a vacancy, we experienced staff in gaining the finance sector in East Larking Gowen regularly recruits means that will require specific skills or professional accreditations and Anglia? for part and newly qualified accountants experience so decisions certifications. We know that all firms of accountants for business and need to expand around how to advertise and accountants are finding it personal accounting, audit and their skills. the target audience is What initiatives do you have in increasingly difficult to advisory and tax professionals, but We are decided on a case by case place? recruit and retain skilled it is becoming increasingly looking for basis. We offer a variety of ways to accountants. This spans business difficult to recruit for these well-rounded We also engage with experience what Larking Gowen is and personal accounting, audit specific roles. As a result, we are candidates schools, colleges and all about, from engaging with and advisory and tax. The reviewing the number of work with universities offering work schools, colleges and universities, shortage of part and newly experience, internships and diverse experience, internships to work experience and qualified accountants shows little apprenticeship placements as we skills, who and apprenticeship internships. Every year Larking sign of abating, and considerable consider skills for the future, and are placements. Internship Gowen offer approximately 20 demand from all sectors outstrips develop our talent pipeline. business- placements and apprenticeships, 10 work supply for accountants at this work experience experience placements and five level. Skills shortages will What specific skills are you placements are a internships across the firm. These continue to cause challenges, looking for? great initiatives are playing an regardless of the economic The role of the professional opportunity for increasingly important role in our conditions. accountant is fast evolving and is individuals to talent strategy and will help us to There is still a lot of uncertainty as much about identifying risk and gain some ensure we have sufficiently skilled as it is hard it predict the impact of opportunity, acting as trusted fantastic employees for the future. Brexit, but amid this uncertainty, business advisors, as it is about experience in the economy in East Anglia delivering core finance functions. the real-world I Follow Larking Gowen at continues to thrive, and there are The way in which accountants environment. wwww. www.icanbea.org.uk East Anglian Daily Times Tuesday, October 17, 2017 BusinessEast Monthly 19 www.eadt.co.uk

What skills will the finance Finance sector – sector need in 2025? at a glance

Immersed in technology risks continue to address life’s certainties. As technology continues to evolve we (Sue Barnes, Willis Towers Watson) Total jobs in Suffolk and Norfolk envisage that there will be less emphasis on ‘crunching the numbers’ and more on Approachable, knowledgeable staff delivering advice and support to help our Whilst internet banking and ‘robo advice’ clients meet their financial goals and may be the norm, one thing I am certain of is aspirations. that there will always be a need for Finance professionals of the future approachable, knowledgeable staff to give will need to be immersed in the tech face to face reassurance and a helping hand. space, for example developing and linking I also think branch offices will look and feel 29,200 apps to add value. By 2025 Scrutton Bland different – they’ll start to be less will likely need in-house software transactional. (Richard Norrington, Ipswich 3.7% of the local economy developers, and it’s also possible that legal Building Society) services will integrate with financial, accounting and advisory firms. Soft skills are becoming more important (Nick Banks, Scrutton Bland) The profession is being affected by new technology, regulation, greater globalisation Adapt to market changes and ever-increasing risk. To meet these We need to recruit individuals who adapt challenges, accountants need to expand their easily to market changes and can design skills. Number of businesses in Suffolk and Norfolk products and solutions to meet the needs of a Increasingly, ‘soft’ skills are becoming demanding population who expect an more important and we are looking for instant solution. well-rounded candidates. The role will be We need risk takers to challenge the status much more about identifying risks and quo but all of that must be balanced with opportunities for clients, acting as their meeting the needs of the wider population. trusted business advisors, as well as Midwives, builders and funeral directors delivering core finance functions. together with those who manage emerging (Becky Ames, Larking Gowen). 1,760 2.9 % of the local economy

Gross Value Added of finance in Suffolk and Norfolk £2.1bn 6.7 % of local economy

USEFUL WEBSITES GVA per job

I www.suffolkskillsshow.com I www.its-mygo.co.uk Details on the county’s leading skills event Mygo is a modern youth being held at employment service for Ipswich’s Trinity 16-24 year olds looking £73,300 Park on October 18th. for employment, training or education compared with average of I www.icanbea.org.uk in Ipswich and across Follow and learn about leading employers Suffolk. £45,000 in the sector. I www.newanglia.co.uk/new-anglia- enterprise-adviser-network New businesses since 2010 Find out more about the benefits of becoming a New Anglia Enterprise Adviser - working with schools and I www.newanglia.co.uk/ypm colleges to help raise career ambitions and The Youth Pledge work prospects for young people. Increase in jobs since 2010 Marque is awarded to businesses in Norfolk and Suffolk who are 2.1% committed to 170 10.7% change change supporting the 600 future workforce. *Figures (for 2015) from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) compiled by the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership as part of its development of a new Economic Strategy for Norfolk and Suffolk. 20 BusinessEast Monthly East Anglian Daily Times Tuesday, October 17, 2017 www.eadt.co.uk

Sector skills report: Finance and business

Q&A - GARY SMITH, GROUP HEAD OF FINANCE, SERVEST ‘In the medium to long-term there will be more finance roles in place to interpret and analyse data...’

Servest is a leading facilities man- agement company with headquar- ters near Bury St Edmunds What roles are you looking to fill? Servest is a fast growing and acquisitive business with UK turno- ver now around thirty times higher than it was ten years ago. This provides fantastic opportunities for both apprentices and experienced finance professionals to join the team as well as providing develop- ment and promotion opportunities for the current team. The most difficult roles to fill are analytical, business partnering roles – finance professionals who can interpret data and present it in a compelling and simple way to drive action and improve results, This approach provides a healthy study package for trainees, with the ACCA (Association of Chartered not just send out spreadsheets full blend of internal promotions for clear intention of developing future Certified Accountants) we have of numbers. individuals with good knowledge finance leadership for the business. a good track record for student tional transactional and manage- and experience of both the busi- We have seen numerous appren- passes, supporting on the job expe- What specific skills are you ment accounts processes, but in the ness and the industry, as well as tices successfully complete their rience and development alongside a looking for? medium to long-term there will be giving fresh ideas and perspec- apprenticeships and progress professional qualification. Whilst As Finance evolves – within more finance roles in place to inter- tives to the team from individuals through AAT accounting studies, we look to encourage and support Servest and the business as a whole pret and analyse data, providing joining Servest from non-related including working closely with study progression into AAT and – many traditional transactional true business partner support to industries. West Suffolk College to give oppor- through to CIMA or ACCA, there is finance roles will become even the business. tunities to local students, highlight- of course a place within the more automated through improve- What initiatives do you have in ing our commitment to uncovering team for individuals not wishing to ments in system processes and How do you recruit talent? place? and developing local talent. study – attitude and enthusiasm are integration. Currently, more head I see benefits from internal devel- Here at Servest the senior manage- For CIMA (Chartered Institute often as important as experience count is focused on the more tradi- opment and external recruitment. ment has invested heavily in the of Management Accountants) and and qualifications.

The apprentice ‘I’ve learnt so much...I now feel as if the sky’s the limit...’ Luke Broad, 23, works in the When I initially joined the nity, I care about my work and I’m finance department of national company I was working in the prepared to work hard to progress. facilities management com- Catering division, but after a while pany Servest based near Bury working full-time, an opportu- Have you any advice for young St Edmunds. Luke joined as an nity came up to move across to people looking for a career apprentice in 2015 and since then Security. finance? has worked his way up to being an They were putting together When you start out you may find assistant accountant within the a new team for Security and, you have to do repetitive and bor- Security division. although there is always risk when ing jobs but that is about learning you move jobs, I was attracted by to apply the logic that you have How did you get a job in the challenge. learnt and earning the trust of finance with Servest? As it has turned out, it has been your employer. Before I joined Servest in January a great move. I hadn’t had much It is a challenge but you need to 2015 I had gained a Level 3 experience when I moved across work hard, be prepared to learn National Diploma in business but I’ve learnt so much since. and take pride in whatever you and finance at college. I had had a I have been given a promotion do and eventually you will number of jobs but was looking for to billing assistant and am now move on to more complex and the right opportunity to get into helping out with the management interesting work. finance. the bottom up and get a full under- of the opportunity. As a result, I accounts. When I saw that Servest was standing of the subject. was offered a full-time role and a I now feel as if the sky’s the „ Find out more about apprentice- advertising an apprenticeship in The apprenticeship involved on significant pay rise. limit. I don’t look at things and ships at: business and finance, I went for the job training and regular meet- think I can’t do that – I believe www.apprenticeshipssuffolk.org. it. It involved initially working as ings with an assessor from WS How has your career with hard work I can get there. a bookkeeping clerk and meant Training. I had a year to complete progressed? Ultimately, I’d like to be a finan- taking a wage cut but it offered it but finished it within six months Servest is a large organisation cial controller or finance manager. me a great route into the sector, to because I was keen to get ahead with a number of different I’m looking forward to the upward get into a big company, work from and work hard and make the most service lines. curve - I’ve been given an opportu- East Anglian Daily Times Tuesday, October 17, 2017 BusinessEast Monthly 21 www.eadt.co.uk

The educators Q&A - PHIL HALL, PARTNER AT BDO, IPSWICH Q&A: ANGELA DEMOORE, SUBJECT LEADER IN ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE WEST SUFFOLK COLLEGE We recruit for strengths and ‘Be curious and keep up to date with what potential...’ is happening with businesses in ..’

What courses are particularly of staff with the hope of keeping relevant to young people them trained and motivated to wanting to work in finance or stay and embed their knowledge Phil Hall, business? into the business. partner The Extended Diploma in With regards to employment at BDO in Business is a two year course opportunities, through our links Ipswich. giving an insight into the with local employers we have foundations of how a business gained a momentum in the level of What Early in Career (EIC) starts and continues on interest in our students, especially through sound management. on the BAF pathway, with some roles are you looking to fill? Topics include people waiting for them to finish their We have graduate and school management (HR), finance qualification, to another where leaver vacancies to join the management (Accounting), one student was being fought over local office, across most areas of resource management by three employers last year. accounting specialisms. We also (physical and technological) host interns and summer school and marketing, to name a few. What advice would you give to work experience programs over Students can progress into year 2 a young person thinking about the summer, to develop talent with an option of studying a more entering the finance sector? for the future success of the defined pathway in Business, „ Maths and English GCSE grades organisation Accounting C/4 or above are key to getting and Finance (BAF), Business into the finance sector. What specific skills are you and Law, Business and Retail or „ Look out and apply for any looking for? Business and Marketing. work experience that you see We are looking for potential and AAT Fastrack is an accounting available, as this can help identify people who will be committed to qualification that some any particular areas of finance studying to achieve their profes- choose to study over a one year and/or accounting that you find sional qualification. We recruit period, learning the foundations interesting. using strengths-based criteria of bookkeeping. For those students „ Log all of the work experience for our early in career roles as wishing to learn more about you complete, as employers will we want to recruit for strengths finance in particular, we offer the be particularly interested in and potential, rather than London Institute of Banking and knowledge in both accounting and training, which may include AAT those candidates that have been assessing on experience. Finance, Certificate of Financial finance, with opportunities to go studies. proactive and therefore stand out Studies (year 1) and diploma in out and complete work experience with a competitive edge. How do you recruit this Financial Studies (year 2). placements over the two years, Are you seeing more „ Be curious and keep up to date helping to knit together academic opportunities for young people with what is happening with talent? In short, we recruit for all levels What routes are there into the theory with the complexities of in this area? businesses in the news and how of experience into BDO. finance sector? workplace reality. The number of apprenticeships this potentially relates to your We recruit our Early in For a school leaver, options would This compares to an in the area have increased due to chosen field, Career talent using a strengths include the Business Extended apprenticeship which focuses the new Levy being put in place. „ Be resilient, be prepared for assessment approach. We believe Diploma, or an accounting on a student being in work four This has encouraged a number knock-backs, and take ownership in authentic assessment, as we apprenticeship. The business days a week and spending 20% of of companies to reconsider of your chosen career path. want people to join us who are option allows a good depth of their time completing off the job employing a younger member going to love what they do and who are able to be themselves and have a successful career at BDO. Each year at BDO across the country we recruit circa 80 Q&A - PAUL HINCHCLIFFE, ACCOUNTING AND BUSINESS TEACHER, ONE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE, IPSWICH school leavers, 200 graduates, 30 interns and offer 35 summer ‘Always remember you have to start from the bottom and work up in business...’ school places. What initiatives do you have in place to attract talent? What courses are relevant to have responded to this by Directors and is one of only a few events they have attended with For EIC, we have a clearly young people wanting to work increasing their provision colleges the IoD. defined marketing strategy to in finance or business? of apprenticeships. in the country where students support our graduate and school We offer a range of business ONE college works with have the opportunity to be What advice would you give to leaver engagement and attrac- and finance associated courses a number of employers selected to be a student member a young person thinking about tion. We use a variety of adver- including A Level’s in Business, such as Willis, KPMG and of the IoD. The IoD student mem- entering the finance sector? tising and are also supported Accounting and Economics Grant Thornton. These ber scheme focuses on equip- „ Work experience is essential, by a fully bespoke recruitment as well as a vocational BTEC companies come ping students for future and a range of work experience process to BDO, assessing can- Business course at Level 2 and 3. into the college to careers in business and placements will help showcase a didate’s for strengths which we speak to students finance in skills such range of skills that you can use know are needed in order to How do apprenticeships fit about careers and as public speaking, job „ Take part in any extra-curric- have a successful career at BDO. into all of this? progression in applications, routes into ular events or projects to enhance Apprenticeships are becoming their firms and management your CV. „Visit the BDO team at the more and more popular and stu- the apprentice- and networking. „ Do your research on what jobs Suffolk Skills Show at Trinity dents are seeing the benefits of ship opportuni- This opportunity has there are in business and finance; Park on October 18. studying and working after post-16 ties available. given many students be prepared to ask people, create study. Students are increasingly The college has a the springboard to contacts, and always remember being put off by the high univer- strong link with get an apprenticeship you have to start from the bottom sity tuition fees and employers the Institute of based on the networking and work up in business.