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Lauren’s learning success is a lesson to everyone

Congratulations to one of our talented young trainee accountants, Lauren Furnish, who’s celebrating her nomination for the prestigious Wales Young Learner of the Year award, which was given out as part of the recent Vocational Qualifications Heroes Day.

Lauren, who joined us as an 18-year-old three years ago, the youngest of that year’s intake, was one of just four contenders from around Wales shortlisted for the award. She was presented with her finalists’ certificate at a ceremony in Cardiff by Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills.

VQ Day is run by Edge, the education foundation, with support from leading players in the vocational education community, and aims to celebrate the achievements of millions of people in the country who gain a vocational qualification every year as a stepping stone to further study, better jobs and enhanced skills.

Lauren, from Barry, left school after her GCSEs at aged 16. She worked in accounts for a family business, and began an accountancy work-based learning programme with the Vale of Glamorgan Training Association and Barry College.

She went on to jobs with SA Brain and Access Scaffolding, studying part time in the evenings over three years to complete the challenging qualifications – AAT NVQ levels 2,3 and 4 in accountancy.

Lauren joined B&A in 2008 as a trainee and successfully achieved her Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualification. She is now studying towards the Institute of Chartered Accountants qualification (ICAEW) and is hoping to become a chartered accountant by 2011, when she will be aged just 23.

“It’s not been easy, but it’s also been a lot of fun,” says Lauren. “I’ve especially enjoyed learning through vocational qualifications which tend to be more practical than other types of qualifications, and I’d certainly recommend them to anyone.”

Stephen Bickerton, B&A’s Director of Business Services said he was delighted with Lauren’s achievements in being nominated for e award. “Lauren has shown her dedication and commitment since joining Broomfield & Alexander, and is a valued member of the team,” he said. “As a firm, we are dedicated to supporting all of our students throughout their training.”

For more information on our student graduate programme please visit http://www.broomfield.co.uk/working-at-broomfield.htm