Instead of competing for experienced finance hires, Gloucestershire College is encouraging companies across the county to recruit and train motivated people at the start of their career, or upskill their existing staff, through accountancy apprenticeships.
Officially designated a Technical Excellence College, Gloucestershire College offers Accountancy (AAT) Apprenticeships which are accredited by the Association of Accounting Technicians – the world’s leading professional body for accounting technicians – and it's currently enrolling for January 2027 cohorts.
The college offers progression pathways from Level 2 to Level 4, with AAT accreditation at every stage, including:
- Level 2 AAT Foundation Certificate in Accounting
- Level 3 AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting
- Level 4 AAT Professional Diploma in Accounting
All three programmes can be delivered as a part-time course or apprenticeship, with apprenticeships giving employers the chance to shape good habits from day one, building skills and loyalty at the same time.
Apprentices learn your systems, standards and culture while studying, with the knowledge they gain on the job put to use immediately.
A junior who joins to handle basic bookkeeping can grow into a confident, qualified accounting technician from inside the company, reducing the cost and risk of repeatedly recruiting from outside.
While for existing teams, apprenticeships are an excellent upskilling option. If you have a bookkeeper, finance assistant or administrator with potential, the same AAT-accredited pathway lets them study while they keep working, gaining recognised qualifications without leaving the business.
The company retains their knowledge of your clients and systems, and adds the technical skills to take on more. It also supports retention, as people who can see a clear route to progression have good reason to stay and grow.
For non-levy-paying employers (typically small and medium-sized businesses), the government covers 100 per cent of training and assessment costs for apprentices aged 16 to 24 up to the funding band maximum.
Eligible non-levy employers can claim £2,000 when they recruit a new apprentice aged 16 to 24. There’s a further £1,000 payment for employers taking on apprentices aged 16 to 18 (or 19 to 24 with an Education, Health and Care Plan or care experience), and employers don’t pay Class 1 National Insurance contributions on qualifying apprentices under 25 earning below the upper earnings threshold – and Gloucestershire College can help local companies check their eligibility before they recruit.
To find out how Gloucestershire College's accountancy apprenticeships could help your business upskill, visit gloscol.ac.uk/accountancy-training.
