Top 15 accountancy and business advisory firm, Saffery, has strengthened its Leeds team with 13 new trainees, highlighting the firm’s ongoing commitment to supporting young people as they build successful careers in professional services. The new recruits include graduates, school leavers and apprentices who will work across the firm’s audit and assurance, tax and accounts teams. Each will follow a structured qualification pathway combining professional study with hands-on experience. They comprise of Timothy Cottrill, Francesca McBride, Martha Hodgson, Oliver Bastain, Joseph Rogers, Kayleigh Whitfield, Lucy Healy, Ruby Cordall, Harley Swales, Jonathan Sreeves, Thomas Smith, Ella Minogue and Jonathan Craigen.
The new joiners are part of a wider national cohort, as the firm plans to welcome 144 trainees across its UK and Dublin offices during the 2026/27 financial year. Saffery currently supports 347 trainees pursuing a range of accountancy, audit and tax qualifications. In 2025, their exam performance exceeded professional institutes’ pass rates in 95% of cases, reflecting the firm’s strong commitment to professional development and training.
Alongside its trainee programmes, Saffery continues to invest in early careers opportunities for students exploring a future in professional services. This summer the firm welcomed two interns in Leeds, giving them valuable insight into life at Saffery and hands-on workplace experience. To support their learning and development, interns benefit from Saffery’s Kickstart Programme, a tailored training and development curriculum launched this year. The programme covers technical knowledge, emerging topics such as AI, and core professional skills. Participants receive ongoing support from a dedicated mentor, regular feedback and the opportunity to progress to a training contract following successful completion of their placement.
Sally Appleton, Partner and Head of Saffery’s Leeds office, said: “We’re pleased to welcome our newest trainees to the team. Supporting and developing young talent has long been an important part of our approach, and these new recruits represent the future of our profession and our firm. Through training, mentoring and hands-on experience, we are committed to helping them build successful and rewarding careers.”
Kathryn Gomme, Head of Learning and Development at Saffery, added: “Whether joining as a graduate, school leaver, apprentice, intern or placement student, our aim is to provide individuals with the skills, experience and support they need to build successful careers. By combining professional qualifications, hands-on client work and access to programmes such as our new Saffery Kickstart Programme, we’re helping to create a strong pipeline of future talent for our business and our clients.”
