First Intuition has been training accountancy students in East Anglia for AAT, ACCA, CIMA and ICAEW exams for over ten years, with training centres in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, Luton, Norwich and Peterborough. With first-class attention to student care and customer service, we have strong working relationships with a large number of organisations across the region. We offer classroom courses and distance learning options, accounting apprenticeships, as well as a new post qualification education programme.

In addition to our classroom courses, we strive to offer employers and students a wider programme of free events and support sessions to help them maintain their knowledge, explore learning and have the opportunity to ask questions. See summaries of some of our previous events below.

1. Leadership Lunch and Learn – Employer Event

first intuition is hosting a number of FREE bite-size leadership and management sessions throughout 2021. Each session will feature guest panellists from companies to discuss the hot topic. Previous topics have included:

Managing Remote Teams

Before the pandemic hit around 6% of people worked from home. In 2020 this significantly increased to almost half the population. As we come out of the other side of restrictions it is predicted that many employees will retain at least an element of home-working in their role.

How do managers excel at leading remote teams? This session included guest speaker and co-host C-J Green, Co-Founder of BraveGoose, who shared her expert tips and advice. In addition, the session also included a panel of experienced and successful managers including Louise Hazard, Senior R2R Manager at Greene King, Simon Mader, Head of Technical Accounting Compliance & UK Reporting at AstraZeneca, Carolyn Connery, Head of Employer and Provider Development at Chartered Management Institute, and Dennis Laudick, VP Marketing, AI/Machine Learning at Arm.

They considered some of the inherent challenges in remote work, the benefits it can bring, and experiences we can all learn from.

You can read a summary of the session and watch the recording here

Building Team and Personal Resilience in a K-shaped Economy

In a very short period of time resilience has changed. Resilience was a remedy focused towards anxiety. It is now a capacity for enabling people, teams and organisations. Recognising the importance of the ability to withstand adversity and bounce back from challenging events over the last 12 months has been recognised by us all.

This session looked at what it means to be a resilient organisation, the importance of resilient teams and how we manage and develop resilient individuals. With guest speakers including ‘Eddie the Eagle’ Edwards, Olympian Ski-jumper, Charlene Lyons, Chief Executive Officer at Black Sheep Brewery, Caroline Ford, Global Digital Capability Lead at AstraZeneca, Doug Field OBE, Joint CEO at East of England Co-op, Lucy Pakes, HR Business Manager at Ashtons Legal, and Dyfrig Jenkins, Owner & Director of YOU. Development.Ltd

You can read a summary of the session and watch the recording here

2. First Intuition Think Tank (FITT) Forums – Employer Event

First Intuition Think Tank forums look at relevant topics currently facing the accounting and finance industry. The forums are a place to share thoughts, as well as to discuss the changes we are all having to make in these unusual times. Employers, educationalists and anyone else with an interest in these hot topics are welcome to join the free virtual events.

Recruiting the ‘COVID Generation’

This forum explored the impact the pandemic has had on young adults. As well as the allowances that will be required in recruiting the coming cohort of school/college leavers to account for lost learning and skills development opportunities. Not only will students have suffered huge disruption to their education for in excess of 12 months. They will have had extremely limited opportunities for early work experience in the hospitality and retail sectors. They will also have seen extra-curricular employer outreach and career activities disappear.  This forum considered how the skill sets of these young adults are likely to differ from our normal expectations. As well as how their CV’s might look and what their exam grades may or may not mean.

Guest speakers including Form the Future, AstraZeneca, Leeds City Council, and Long Road Sixth Form College formed a balanced panel exploring the impacts on the different parties involved, from employer to student.

Find a summary of the points discussed at the forum and the recording here.

The Role of Data Analytics in Accountancy

This forum explored how digitisation, automation, and Artificial Intelligence are revolutionising the way that financial transactions are recorded. As well as how they are also transforming the way that data can be interrogated, analysed, and presented to aid better business decision-making.

We were joined by leading experts in this rapidly growing field, including Inflo, the financial DA software that is now embedding into ICAEW exams, Head of Products & Markets at AAT, Cambridge Judge Business School, GenerationCFO, and representatives from the awarding bodies AAT, ACCA, CIMA and ICAEW.

Find a summary of the points discussed at the forum and the recording here.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Workplace

This forum discussed the importance of diversity in the workplace for employers as well as what businesses can be doing to improve EDI. Embracing diversity and inclusion, and providing equality goes a long way in promoting a work culture that values talent beyond stereotypes. Moreover, an inclusive workplace fosters better productivity and efficiency, improves retention of staff, and can act as a major attraction during recruitment.

Guest panellists included Richard DeNetto, Associate Director at CBI and Campaign Lead for Change the Race Ratio, Sharon Critchlow FCCA, APFS, Chartered MCSI, FRSA, Wellbeing and Emotional Intelligence Evangelist and Trainer, Rachel Blackburn MBA, Executive Coach at US2U Consulting and Representatives from the awarding bodies AAT, ACCA, CIMA and ICAEW.

Find a summary of the points discussed at the forum and the recording here.

Further Resources

Apprenticeship Resources – Employer

• Claiming incentives for apprenticeships –read more
• Why start an apprenticeship programme? – read more
• How apprenticeships can benefit your business – read more
• Our apprenticeship programmes – read more

 CPD Courses – Employer

First Intuition and Future Finance Training have teamed up to offer Continuing Professional Development courses. Find more information on the CPD courses First Intuition offers here.

 AAT Revision Sessions for Students

These FREE short sessions run on a weekly basis for students and cover many of the Level 2, 3 and 4 papers. More information and links to book here.

 Podcast and YouTube Resources – Employer and Student

First Intuition has a number of additional resources for students and employers on our YouTube and Podcast channel.