A national accountancy firm has appointed its first apprentice in the company’s 224 year history.

Chloe Leddington has joined Chantrey Vellacott DFK’s Birmingham office on Calthorpe Road and will work towards an apprenticeship in business administration over the next 12 months.

The 19-year-old, who lives in Oldbury, will spend time one day a week studying at Halesowen College during the apprenticeship. Nick Simkins, partner at Chantrey Vellacott DFK, said further apprenticeships could also be launched at the firm’s 10 offices across the Midlands and the South East.

“We are delighted Chloe has joined our team in Birmingham and in doing so become Chantrey Vellacott DFK’s first ever apprentice,” he said.

“Chloe has made a really promising start to her career with us and we look forward to helping play a part in her development and her becoming an important member of our team in the Midlands.

“We’d been considering taking on an apprentice for a while now and are pleased to have struck up an excellent working partnership with Emma Ball at Halesowen College as she helped make the process extremely easy.

“This is a key milestone in the history of Chantrey Vellacott DFK and I know our other offices across the country are also looking into creating further apprenticeship opportunities.”

Ms Leddington is one of 84 apprentices studying at Halesowen College while also in full-time employment.