Improve your finance skills

Guide your business through financial challenges

The business environment is always evolving and changes happen all the time so we must adapt to keep on top. Some of these recent changes include Making Tax Digital and auto-enrolment, which make the role of the accountant more demanding. Long gone are the days of just preparing the accounts and doing an annual tax return. Whether working in-house or for an agency, accountants need to be armed with the knowledge and skills to navigate through numerous financial challenges.

Technology – having your finger on the pulse

Making Tax Digital is a Government initiative to make HMRC into an online system.

By 2020 most businesses will be required to keep track of their tax affairs digitally. This new digital system will not only tell you how much tax you have to pay, but will help you budget for future business growth.

Connecting – drives business success

Relationship building internally and externally is a great way to identify opportunities

and influence decision-makers. To do this, accountants need to understand the personal impact of financial data and be able to translate and communicate this across all levels of a business. Today, accountants need to review all elements of business through integrated reports to drive business success.

Adapt – skills keep you and your business up-to-date

The ability to adapt and keep up-to-date with technical skills and knowledge will help your business identify future trends, giving you a competitive edge. Through training and apprenticeships for your workforce, we can help you address the critical needs of your business, enabling you to mould an effective and productive workforce.

Upcoming AAT Courses

AAT Level 2 Foundation Certificate in Accounting

Start Dates: 

12 September 2017, 9am to 1pm - Cornwall College, Camborne

12 September 2017, 5pm to 9pm - Cornwall College, St Austell

12 September 2017, 9am to 1pm - Cornwall College, Saltash

14 September 2017, 5pm to 9pm - Cornwall College, Camborne

15 September 2017, 9am to 1pm - Cornwall College, St Austell

What will I learn? 

During the AAT Level 2, you will learn finance administrator skills e.g. double entry bookkeeping, basic costing principles, and purchase, sales and general ledgers. Upon successful completion, you could progress to the AAT Level 3 Diploma.

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AAT Level 3 Advance Diploma in Accounting

Start Dates: 

5 September 2017, 5pm to 9pm - Cornwall College, Camborne

6 September 2017, 9am to 3pm - Cornwall College, Camborne

6 September 2017, 9am to 3pm -  Cornwall College, St Austell

7 September 2017, 5pm to 9pm -  Cornwall College, St Austell

7 September 2017, 9am to 3pm - Cornwall College, Saltash

What will I learn? 

This is a follow on course from the AAT Level 2. During this course, you will learn more complex finance officer processes e.g. final accounts for sole traders and partnerships, reports and returns, and professional ethics. Upon successful completion, you could progress to the AAT Level 4 Diploma.

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AAT Level 4 Professional Diploma in Accounting

Start Dates: 

5 September 2017, 9am to 3.30pm - Cornwall College, St Austell

6 September 2017, 9am to 3.30pm - Cornwall College, Saltash

6 September 2017, 5pm to 9pm -  Cornwall College, Camborne

7 September 2017, 9am to 3.30pm - Cornwall College, Camborne

What will I learn? 

This is a follow on course from the AAT Level 3. During this course, you will learn finance team leader skills e.g. financial statements for limited companies, complex management accounting tasks, management skills and specialist learning areas.

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Computerised Payroll IAB Award Level 2

Start Dates: 

18 September 2017, 2pm to 5pm - Cornwall College, Camborne

What will I learn? 

This qualification provides the necessary skills to carry out a range of basic day-to-day computerised payroll routines and activities using commercially available computerised payroll software – SAGE Payroll.

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Computerised Payroll IAB Award Level 3

What will I learn? 

This qualification provides the necessary skills to carry out a range of day-to-day computerised payroll routines and activities using commercially available computerised payroll software – SAGE Payroll.

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Management Accounting CIMA Diploma Level 5

Venue: 

Cornwall College, Camborne

Date: 

14 September 2017, 2pm to 6pm

What will I learn? 

The CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting is for anyone wishing to start working towards this highly regarded, internationally recognised, professional management accounting qualification.

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Management Accounting CIMA Advanced Diploma Level 7

Venue: 

Cornwall College, Camborne

Date: 

12 September 2017, 2pm to 6pm

What will I learn? 

The CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting is for anyone wishing to continue working towards this highly regarded, internationally recognised, professional management accounting qualification.

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The benefits of taking on an apprentice

“I find taking on apprentices is the best way to bring employees into the business. They bring fresh minds that absorb and learn so much in the first years of working.”Emma Gilbert, Buttons Accounting Limited

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Accountancy New Standard Apprenticeships

New Standard Apprenticeships are perfect for addressing the critical needs of your business, enabling you to mould an effective and productive workforce.

By taking on new staff, or upskilling your existing staff through accountancy apprenticeships, you develop their practical skills to manage finances, budgets and cash flow more effectively. This will ultimately keep your business on a secure financial footing.

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Download your copy of our Business Training Guide 2017 to see a complete list of courses available. 

Accounting Apprenticeships in Launceston

Buttons Accounting Limited provides accounting, book-keeping and a wide range of other services to businesses and self-employed sole traders and partnerships based in Launceston they employ 14 members of staff. Their mission statement is ‘to always provide a friendly, efficient and informative service’ developed with input from each member of staff meaning this is at the heart of everyone’s work.

What were the businesses issues/challenges to undertake training?

Emma Gilbert started Button’s in 2004 from home where she began building a client base. In 2006 Emma had her own premises and started taking apprentices to keep up with the demand of work and to expand the business, since then Button’s is committed to taking on at least one apprentice per year.

The training undertook:

Employing apprentices are the best way to bring employees into the business. They bring fresh minds that absorb and learn so much in the first years of working. When they join the company they are treated as equals in the workplace and are expected to value and uphold Button’s standards. Button’s apprentices are all at different stages of their career journeys, undertaking the different levels of AAT.

What impacts and benefits has the training had on the company?

Apprentices have helped the company to succeed, with their enthusiasm to become part of a team, to fulfil a role and develop their own skills and responsibilities. On completing a successful apprenticeship, they feel confident enough to take on responsibility and mentor others. One of their apprentices, Paulina, has grown in confidence during her apprenticeship and has taken it upon herself to organise our payroll into a separate service rather than an add-on service. The training has helped to build a confident team who work together to help to improve their own and each other’s skills, which in turn builds confidence within the company. Since April 2016 Buttons have taken on an additional 40 clients; which Emma believes is in itself, a testimony to their success within the industry.

“I find taking on apprentices is the best way to bring employees into the business. They bring fresh minds that absorb and learn so much in the first years of working.” 

Emma Gilbert, Buttons Accounting Limited

We have over 100 apprenticeships available.

Pendennis Apprenticeship Scheme

Pendennis is a world-class and award winning Custom Build and Refit superyacht yard in Falmouth, UK, specialising in luxury sail and motor yachts 30-100m. Pendennis have been operating a successful apprenticeship scheme for the last 18 years.

What were the businesses issues/challenges to undertake training or take on apprentices?

The Pendennis Apprenticeship Scheme, which is a nationally recognised and awarding winning scheme, has trained over 200 young men and women in the key industry trades over the past 18 years.  The vision behind the scheme came from the Directors, and it was that the shipyard became more self-reliant on the skills needed with home grown talent to deliver the quality product that Pendennis has become synonymous for.  Another big driving factor behind the scheme, which the yard worked tirelessly to promote, was affording opportunities to young local people.  Apprentices at Pendennis get a fantastic career pathway set out in front of them with the chance to grow and develop with the business.  Progression is a key part of the business strategy at Pendennis, with apprentices often moving into senior positions having learned their trade with the company.  By taking on young people from the local community Pendennis has clearly identified a way for their apprentices to contribute to the local economy as well as the business. Another key driver behind the implementation of such a comprehensive apprenticeship scheme has been continued improvement for the business. 

The training undertaken:

The high quality nature of the business requires highly skilled people with a wider appreciation of the service to the customer and their requirements. The Pendennis Apprenticeship Scheme started in 1998 with The Cornwall College Group in its first basic format and has evolved into a specialised bespoke programme as a continued partnership ever since. In August 2016 Pendennis reached a fantastic landmark in employing their 200th apprentice since the apprenticeship scheme began back in 1998, which is an incredible achievement that really underlines the commitment to training and providing opportunities for young people that Pendennis embodies.

What impacts and benefits has the training had on the company?

Over the past 18 years that Pendennis has been operating their apprenticeship scheme, over 95% of apprentices have been offered full-time employment at Pendennis upon graduation.  17.5% of the management team are ex-apprentices responsible for key areas with the shipyard. The amount of skills that have to be out-sourced has been reduced from 75% in 2005 to almost 10% currently and that has only been achievable due to the commitment to employing apprentices from the local community. Now 35% of the workforce is aged less than 30 years old compared to 29% back in 1998 which will help sustain the business for the future.

We have over 100 apprenticeships available.