An accountancy firm is putting the ethos of its major new campaign for young entrepreneurs into action by appointing its youngest female partner.
Claire Stacey-Connor, aged 28, has taken up her new position in the Leamington office of Baldwins accountants.
Her promotion comes hot-on-the-heels of the Baldwins Kick-Start programme which will see the firm give away £300,000 over the next decade to 30 aspiring young entrepreneurs across the Midlands.
Claire joined Baldwins’ former Nuneaton office as a trainee accountant after leaving John Cleveland College in Hinckley in 2002.
She passed her Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) exams before progressing onto the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ACA) qualification, to become a fully-qualified member in 2010, before moving to the Coventry office in Binley Road, Binley, last April and her client portfolio has continued to grow.
Claire, who lives in Hinckley, said: “The promotion of young people fits in with Baldwins’ support of young entrepreneurs who will be able to realise their aspirations through our Kick Start scheme.
“I have been able to achieve my career ambitions after joining Baldwins from college as an 18-year-old by passing my accountancy exams and working hard to work my way through the company.
“One of the key skills that I think has helped me gain this promotion is the strong relationships that I have built with colleagues, existing clients and prospects and that won’t change in my new role.”
She will be the third partner at Baldwins’ premises in Waterloo Place, Leamington, along with Kevin Brevitt and Roger Tay.
“I am looking forward to starting my new role as a partner in Leamington,” Claire said. “It will be a new challenge and it is a chance to get involved in the local business community by attending networking events.
“I will also be maintaining some of my clients and looking at the growth potential for Baldwins in and around Leamington as well as assessing the systems and procedures we have in place as a company.
“It is an exciting time and I can’t wait to get started.”