Seven employees at chartered accountants Duncan & Toplis are being coached for a future leadership role as members of the Duncan & Toplis Academy.

The firm, which has around 350 staff and ten offices in the East Midlands, created the Academy last year to plan ahead and identify the people who might lead the practice in the future. It supports individuals with potential and helps them to develop their careers through targeted training and support.

The first eight employees have just completed a year of coaching and now seven more have joined the scheme: Rachel Barrett and Mark Taylor (Lincoln), Michele Coe-Baxter (Skegness), Stuart Cooper (Louth), Graeme Hills (Grantham), Alistair Main (Spalding) and Simon Shaw (Newark).

They were selected after a challenging assessment day which included practical tests and group activities.

Participants will take part in two-day workshops throughout the coming 12 months covering topics such as management and leadership, client management, negotiation skills, prospect conversion and presentation skills.

Each participant will be assigned a trained mentor who is able to provide guidance and ensure that the process runs smoothly.

The Duncan & Toplis Academy is being run in association with PDW, a specialist management development firm, and training provider Mercia Group.

Pictured are (left to right): Adrian Reynolds (Managing Director), Mark Taylor, Alistair Main, Michele Coe-Baxter, Simon Shaw, Rachel Barrett, Stuart Cooper, Graeme Hills and Tim Sayers (PDW).

Notes to editors

• Duncan & Toplis was established in 1925 and has since grown into one of the largest independent firms of chartered accountants in the Midlands.
• Duncan & Toplis appears in the top 30 UK accountancy practices list published by Accountancy magazine.
• The company has 10 offices throughout the East Midlands: in Grantham, Boston, Lincoln, Louth, Melton Mowbray, Newark, Skegness, Sleaford, Spalding and Stamford.
• Duncan & Toplis offers a wide range of services to small to large-sized family businesses, from accountancy, audit and tax to payroll, human resources and computer services.
• The business employs around 350 staff, of whom 85 are currently engaged in professional training.

For media information please contact:
Jez Ashberry
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
07780 735071
jez@weareshootingstar.co.uk
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