Chartered accountants, business advisers and financial planners Lovewell Blake has welcomed a new intake of 17 apprentices and graduate trainees – and has started the recruitment process for its 2017 intake.

The firm recruits up to 20 school leavers, college leavers and graduates on an annual basis, with all embarking on professional qualifications or apprenticeships from day one.

As the 2016 intake joins the firm, applications have opened for the 2017 positions, for current Year 11 and Year 13 students, as well as degree final year students.

Those joining from school and college on apprenticeships start the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) or Business Administration qualifications, whilst graduate trainees study for either the Association of Chartered Accountants (ACA) or Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualifications – onto which accountancy apprentices also progress once they have achieved the AAT qualification.

The new entrants are working in the firm’s offices in Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Halesworth and Thetford and boost Lovewell Blake’s head count to 273.

“As a firm we are committed to training the next generation of young professionals,” said Lovewell Blake managing partner Colin Fish.

“It is always exciting to welcome a fresh group of enthusiastic young people, who have made it through our rigorous selection process into our well-regarded training programme.

“We work very closely with schools and colleges in the region to encourage young people to enter the profession, and to ensure that we attract the pick of the crop each year. I wish all of our new entrants every success, and look forward to watching them achieve qualifications, and progress in their careers.”

Students interested in applying for Lovewell Blake’s 2017 training intake can find further details at www.lovewell-blake.co.uk/careers.

The closing date for applications is January 12 2017, with an assessment centre to be held in February.