One of the first apprentices to join a professional firm in Essex has been given a permanent job in the financial services industry. 
Apprenticeships have tradition-ally been reserved for hands-on skills, such as bricklaying and tool-making, but Sam Francis, now 18, took advantage of the Government’s scheme to establish apprenticeships in areas such as banking and the law. 
Sam shunned going to university and amassing student debt in favour of the apprenticeship scheme, starting as an office administrator. 
The young apprentice, from Basildon, impressed his bosses at legal firm Birkett Long so much, he has now been given a permanent job in the firm’s financial services section in Colchester.
He will be working in fields such as investment, retirement planning, life and business protection, inheritance tax planning and later life planning. 
Sam said: “My aim has all along been to work in the financial services sector, and now it has been fulfilled.” 
He gained the role through TheLightBulb organisation – a private company working in partnership with the Government to deliver funded apprenticeships and training courses across a range of industries. 
During his time at Birkett Long, Sam gained an NVQ Level 2 qualification in business admin-istration. 
Nicola Ward, associate and head of financial services, said: “During the year he has been with Birkett Long, Sam impressed everyone so much, his colleagues dubbed him their ‘Man Friday’.” 
Sam plans that his new role as a financial services administration assistant will lead to a role as a qualified paraplanner, providing the back-up to financial advisers. 
The teenager, who achieved nine GCSEs at Basildon’s Woodlands School and 4 A/S levels at Palmers College, said: “The past year, working within a legal office, has been just great.
“Moving to the team of independent financial advisers is a real highlight.” 
The next stage in Sam’s continuing programme of study is to take the Chartered Insurance Institute exams – the insurance and financial study programme for the financial services industry. 
Sam said: “The qualification I am studying for is the diploma in regulated financial planning – there are six exams in total and I aim to achieve a minimum of two a year.
“In the longer term, I hope to become a financial adviser. 
“The apprenticeship has been a great way of getting started.
“Everyone here has been brilliant in making me feel welcome and helping me learn all the new processes.” 
Ms Ward said: “It is refreshing to have a young person’s outlook in the team and someone who has enthusiasm and drive to further his career in financial services.
“He will be an asset to our team.” 
Birkett Long LLP provides a wide range of financial advice to businesses and individuals including investments, retirement planning, life and business protection, inheritance tax planning and later life planning.
For more information, visit www.birkettlong.co.uk/financial or call 01206 217309.