In just three years, former butcher Sam Towler transitioned to a career in professional tax practice, thanks to the ATT Apprenticeship.
Starting with no prior experience or qualifications in finance, Sam made the leap to taxation after searching for a career with more long-term prospects.
He completed his apprenticeship with Irwin Mitchell LLP in July 2024 and is now working as a Tax Adviser at Irwin Mitchell LLP.
Sam’s interest in the ATT Apprenticeship was driven by a desire for long-term career stability and a professional qualification that could open up new opportunities.
“I wasn’t particularly set on working in tax, but I knew I wanted to go beyond my Level 3 qualifications,” says Sam.
“Of all the Level 4 apprenticeships out there, the ATT one stood out. The wealth of practical knowledge it offered – learning something one week and applying it the next week – really helped consolidate my knowledge and boosted my confidence.”
For Irwin Mitchell LLP, the investment in Sam has proven beneficial.
Liz Beadsley, Partner (Non-Lawyer) at Irwin Mitchell, says: “The ATT Apprenticeship has been a positive experience. As well as the technical knowledge that comes with the ATT Qualification, the Apprenticeship has enabled our apprentices to have the wider skills to develop their career, which in turn has benefitted us.”
The ATT Apprenticeship not only upskilled Sam quickly but also gave the company a confident, technically capable team member who was able to contribute immediately in a high-standard, client-facing role.
Within a year of qualifying, Sam had taken on a full client list, and he was applying what he learned every single day.
“Two weeks before starting the Apprenticeship, I was working as a butcher, I’d never worked in an office, and I wasn’t a very professional person. The apprenticeship taught me a whole host of new skills, like time management, how to communicate with different stakeholders, and how to work in a team efficiently.”
Sam is now enrolled on the Level 7 Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) Apprenticeship, and is considering further specialisation, including the STEP qualification.
“The ATT is an incredibly important foundation; it has given me the technical knowledge required for my job and has grown my confidence,” he says. “I never would’ve gone to uni. I probably would’ve stayed in butchery forever, but this opportunity has completely changed my life. Apprenticeships like this open doors for people like me.”
In England, the government funds up to 95% of apprenticeship costs for most small businesses, and large employers with a payroll over £3 million can use their Apprenticeship Levy. This means that you can receive up to £15,000 of funding per apprentice, making the ATT Apprenticeship a cost-effective way to build tax expertise within your team.
In Scotland and Wales, the rules are different. Apprenticeship funding in Scotland is administered by Skills Development Scotland, whilst apprenticeship funding in Wales primarily comes from the Welsh Government.
Want to hear more about Sam’s story? Listen to the full Step into Tax podcast about how the ATT Apprenticeship opened doors for Sam
This article reflects the position at the date of publication. If you are reading this at a later date you are advised to check that that position has not changed in the time since.
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