Latest News

17 Apr

17 April 2015

FirstPro: Young Professional Nominees

Philip Ballard, Cranfield Business Recovery

philbullardPhilip is a driven young man, determined to excel in his career.  Since joining the firm Philip has undertaken a comprehensive programme of study.  At the age of 22, he qualified as an accountant with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.  At 24, he obtained his Certificate of Proficiency in Insolvency and during 2014 became one of the youngest Registered Property Receivers in the country with insolvency experience having passed his NARA exams.  Philip is now studying towards his JIEB exams to become an Insolvency Practitioner.  Having started as a case administrator in 2007, Philip has received a number of promotions and is now a manager, actively managing his team in order to provide a high quality service.  Philip is also a committee member of the Coventry & Warwickshire First Young Professionals.

 

Sophie Breeze, Dafferns

Sophie BreezeThe youngest in the category, Sophie joined Dafferns as a graduate in 2013, just a few weeks after completing her degree.  She has already become a valuable member of the Dafferns audit and accounting team and is sailing through her professional exams.  She also persuaded twelve of her female colleagues to take part in the “Pretty Muddy Event”, leading them around a 5km muddy obstacle course, raising nearly £3,000 in the process for Cancer Research UK.

 

Chrissie Duxson, University of Warwick

Chrissie DuxsonChrissie works in the Marketing Services team at The University of Warwick where she was recently shortlisted in the University Staff Awards for consistently going above and beyond in her job.  She has a First Class (Hons) Law degree, as well as being AAT qualified.  She also runs a photography business, Christine Ann Photography, and is Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Warwick and Leamington.  She writes a monthly small business focused article that appears in the Warwick and Leamington Courier as well as the Kenilworth Weekly News.

Chrissie is very active in Young Professionals, having taken on the responsibility for the marketing and PR of the group. She also mentors a sixth form student through the Career Academies programme.

 

Louise Hargrave, Arthur J Gallagher

Louise HargraveLouise joined the Enterprise team three years ago as an apprentice.  Since then she has progressed from Broking Assistant to Trainee Account Manager and now to Account Manager, providing insurance solutions for small to medium businesses and sole traders.

Louise has recently obtained her Certificate in Insurance and is now starting her Diploma in Insurance. She has also completed a Business Administration & Financial Services Apprenticeship.

Her ‘can-do’ attitude makes her highly thought of by both clients and colleagues.

Louise is now passing on the skills and knowledge she has gained to the next generation by mentoring the new apprentices.

 

Paige Howitt, The SFB Group

paige-howittA Senior Accountant at Stewart, Fletcher & Barrett Paige has shone at the firm. She regularly deputises for her managers, the youngest in the office to be working at this level. She is now mid-way through her ACCA qualification and is studying a BSc (Hons) Degree in Applied Accounting at Oxford Brookes University. An active member of Coventry & Warwickshire First’s Young Professionals, Paige has taken up the role of Charity Officer on the committee. Paige also has a track record of fundraising, recently completing a skydive for Leukemia Care regularly taking part in events including the Moonlight Walk for Myton Hospice.

 

Carl Malcolm, Dafferns

Carl-Malcolm-3-14-e1421843726353Carl is an important contributor to the Dafferns team, responsible for a number of his own clients. Outside work he has been an active participant in the Young Professional network. He is currently chair of the Young Professionals and in this role has been responsible for the reinvigoration of the mentoring programme. He is also incredibly active in the local community, quietly raising funds for and contributing to a variety of local charities.