Pictured above: Mabe Allen LLP managing partner Kevin
Slack (centre) with chartered accountants Aaron Cooke and Kim
Glasgow.
Two students of Derby-based Mabe Allen, leading East Midlands
chartered accountants and business advisers, have qualified as
chartered accountants.
Aaron Cooke, who works at the firm's office in St Mary Street,
Ilkeston, is one of only a few students nationally to have
qualified without going to university.
Twenty-five-year-old Aaron, from West Hallam, started with Mabe
Allen at the age of 16 and initially passed the Association of
Accounting Technicians examinations.
Aaron then decided to progress to the full professional
qualifications with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in
England and Wales. This was a four-year course of intense
training, including block release at Nottingham and study at home
as well as learning while working at the firm.
Colleague Kim Glasgow (24), based at the firm's head office in
Osmaston Road, Derby, has also qualified, completing the
professional qualification course in three years achieving first
time passes in all subjects.
Kim, a graduate in economics accounting and finance at the
University of Wales, Aberystwyth, joined the firm in September
2006, aged 21.
Kevin Slack, managing partner of Mabe Allen, said: "I am
delighted that Kim and Aaron's hard work has helped them achieve
this status in pursuit of their careers.
"Aaron is a great example for all school leavers that with the
right ambition, hard work and commitment they can achieve their
full potential without going to university, proving that the
chartered accountancy qualification is not solely degree entry
only.
"It's a difficult route to go and many students give up on the
way but Aaron has persevered."
Mabe Allen employs 52 people at its three offices - the other
being at Derby Road, Ripley.
Both Aaron and Kim are now eligible to join the Institute of
Chartered Accountants, with a world-wide membership of 132,000
members including leaders and advisors of organisations of all
sizes across every economic sector.