Bishop Fleming recruits 40 apprentices across offices

Bishop Fleming has recruited more than 40 apprentices, trainees and placement students, who will join teams across its seven offices.

The new starters are based in Bristol, Birmingham, Cheltenham, Exeter, Plymouth, Truro and Worcester as part of the accountancy firm's early careers hiring.

More than a third of the firm's workforce is now made up of apprentices and trainees, highlighting the scale of its entry-level recruitment. Bishop Fleming employs more than 500 staff and has 60 partners across its network, which stretches from the West Midlands to the South West.

The latest intake comes as professional services firms continue to widen routes into the sector beyond traditional graduate hiring. Apprenticeships, placement years and other training schemes are playing a bigger role in recruitment strategies as employers build talent pipelines and address skills needs across audit, tax and advisory work.

Early careers

Bishop Fleming said its apprenticeship provision has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted. The firm also placed 17th in The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2026.

Katherine Mead, head of talent development at Bishop Fleming, outlined the firm's approach to developing junior staff.

She said: "Welcoming a new cohort is always a rewarding moment for us. These are people at the very start of their careers, and we have a real opportunity to give them the experience, support and professional development to build a successful future.

"Supporting early careers talent is an important part of Bishop Fleming and we're proud that more than a third of our workforce is now made up of apprentices and trainees. Seeing people who started their careers with us go on to progress through the firm shows just what those first opportunities can lead to."

The intake includes recruits joining different offices and entering the profession through several routes, including T Levels. The mix reflects a broader shift in accountancy recruitment, with firms targeting school leavers and college students as well as graduates.

One new starter described the experience of joining the Bristol office.

Baker, associate at Bishop Fleming, said: "My first week has been phenomenal. I've met more people in the first three days than I thought I would, and everyone has been incredibly welcoming. As Bishop Fleming's first T Level student, I'm proud to represent an alternative route into the profession."

New recruits in other offices also highlighted the role of training and workplace support in their first days with the firm.

Price said: "I chose Bishop Fleming because of its reputation, its training and development opportunities, and the chance to start my career in a firm where I can continue to grow and progress. In my first week, everyone has been welcoming and supportive."

Diaz Paramo said: "What an incredibly insightful first week. The introductory sessions helped us all connect, get to know one another and, most importantly, learn more about Bishop Fleming, its culture and positive working environment."

Regional footprint

The new intake is spread across a regional network that gives the firm coverage in both the South West and the Midlands. For mid-tier accountancy firms, local office bases remain important for attracting staff who want professional qualifications and long-term careers without relocating to London.

Bishop Fleming reported turnover of more than £50 million and said it operates across audit, accountancy, tax and advisory services. It is also ranked fifth in the Accountancy Age Mid-Tier Power Index and says it is the largest provider of audit services to multi-academy trusts in the academy sector.

Several of the new starters highlighted the structured onboarding they received in their opening week.

Cecchi said: "The Professional Foundation Week was an invaluable way to kickstart my career at Bishop Fleming. The carefully structured programme provided a thorough introduction to the firm.

"What stood out to me most was the clear investment Bishop Fleming makes in its apprentices and the willingness to go the extra mile to help us excel. Having the opportunity to meet senior leaders and partners, connect with colleagues across the firm and gain a deeper understanding of how the business operates was incredibly inspiring and reinforced my excitement about the journey ahead."

Another recruit said informal contact before joining had helped ease first-job nerves.

Shah said: "Starting my first job, I was filled with nerves, but meeting some of my colleagues at a bowling social before I started helped put me at ease and made me excited to join. Since then, everyone has been so supportive and welcoming, and knowing I can always ask for help has made settling into my role a really positive experience."