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Senior apprenticeship inspires leader of the future
A senior management apprenticeship is taking a highly respected senior Insolvency Practitioner and Director to new heights at Leonard Curtis in a top to bottom commitment to apprenticeships by the leading professional services group.
Rochelle Schofield, who is based in the Group’s Manchester office, has chosen the Senior Leader Level 7 programme at Manchester University to improve her knowledge and skills and progress her career.
Rochelle was talking about her experiences as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2025 – this week – which champions and celebrates the achievements of apprentice study at all levels.
Meeting other students on the same journey in different industries has been one of the highlights for Rochelle as well as gaining a mix of strategic, leadership and operational skills.
She commented: “This has included how to coach and mentor teams and build high-performance cultures and how to lead transformation, innovation and change projects.”
Learning to reflect more has been a key takeout and something she now does on a regular basis.
“It has helped me take a new attitude to continuous learning and self-improvement – I can see the gaps more clearly.”
She advises everyone to take advantage of an apprenticeship. “Whilst it was hard work at times to juggle a busy job, young family and university assignments my advice would be to fully embrace all the units of study – it’s been a game-changer for me.”
Leonard Curtis employs over 300 people in 29 offices across the UK and has long supported apprenticeships with nine currently underway, including Rochelle’s. These cover accounts or finance assistant, solicitor, business administrator and people professionals – all at various levels.
HR Director Catherine Reynolds said the company has long seen value in apprenticeships as a way to bring people from all backgrounds into the business and develop some of its highest fliers.
“We have had great success with grassroots recruitment and find the apprenticeships level 2 and 3 complement our insolvency career pathway by providing theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for people at the start of their career journey.
“We have successfully utilised apprenticeships as an alternative to more traditional educational routes, which means our employees can achieve professional qualifications whilst gaining on-the-job experience. They work very well for us.”
Redvers Rowson is a junior administrator apprentice in the firm’s Bury office. “My studies provide a strong foundation for the day-to-day job. It has really helped me better my critical thinking skills when dealing with my cases.”
Ben Powell is an apprentice debt advisory analyst in the funding team at the Manchester office who wanted to carry on studying towards a qualification which is relevant to the role at Leonard Curtis. “It’s the perfect blend of work and theory which I just would not get doing a traditional course at university.”
Nara Fullbrook, also in the Bury office, is an HR Advisor doing the People Professional apprenticeship, level 5. “It has helped me achieve my professional CIPD qualification and get me to the next stage in my career. Tying studies to the role showed me how it supported my development immediately.”
Leonard Curtis is fully backing the 18th annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships and skills. CEO Dan Booth said the company would remain committed to the programme: “It is great to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy. We have certainly seen that first hand in our organisation.”
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