How a 50-employee company built an award-winning team through apprenticeships

Size is no barrier to a top apprenticeship scheme. Bespoke-Advice, a financial services firm with under 50 staff, has invested in early-career talent - earning a Sunday Times Best Places to Work award through WorkL’s rigorous assessment. Director Suzi Lane discusses their success in building an award-winning culture where development and belonging go hand-in-hand.

Suzi Lane

Director, Bespoke-Advice

What inspired your organisation to start offering apprenticeships, and how long have you been running your programme?

We started offering apprenticeships because we believe “doing things properly” includes building the future of our profession, not just benefitting from it. Financial planning has both an “advice-gap” and a diversity problem; apprenticeships are one of the most practical ways we can open doors, create real careers in Worcestershire and raise standards for clients at the same time.

Our programme has been running for several years and is now a cornerstone of the business, delivered through a structured apprenticeship and mentoring scheme with Skills Edge.

Describe the structure of your apprenticeship programme (e.g. roles offered, levels, support systems)?

We run a tailored development plan for every apprentice, so it’s not a one-size-fits-all scheme. Apprentices typically enter via operational/support roles for example, financial services administrator – level three and can progress into technical and client-facing pathways such as paraplanner/financial planner – level four (and beyond).

For those who go onto become financial planners we offer an inhouse support programme to help them reach Chartered status - level six.

Support is built around: a line-manager mentor, structured off-the-job learning, regular 1:1 training support, and exam/qualification scaffolding aligned to professional standards.