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Armstrong Watson is marking National Apprenticeship Week 2026 with a recruitment drive for 74 trainees, alongside the appointment of a new firmwide technical training director.
Chris Soan, the former associate dean of Education at Newcastle University Business School, joins to oversee the development of a trainee population that has now reached 160 individuals.
The firm currently supports 160 trainees, including a record intake of 89 who joined in 2025, working across audit, accounting, tax, and payroll.
For the 2026 intake, Armstrong Watson plans to take on 27 AAT and six ATT positions, alongside 41 graduate roles for the Chartered ACA qualification across its 19 offices in the North of England and Scotland.
In 2025, the firm was ranked 29th in The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers, marking its fourth consecutive year of recognition. It also rose to 37th in the Department for Education’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers, up from 64th in 2022.
Soan, whose previous experience includes senior roles at PwC and Deloitte, said: “My role is to strengthen the firm’s support framework for our students, empowering them on their journey to becoming confident, well-rounded professionals. I find it refreshing that a firm is prepared to invest in a new firmwide role dedicated to an unrivalled training experience.”
Matthew Rogerson, audit and assurance associate, who recently completed his AAT and is now pursuing ACA status, added: “Balancing studying and working while earning is a great opportunity to learn in a professional environment. One of the best things is having great people around you.”
