Accounting Industry
Readiness Programme

University of Greenwich

Agnieszka Herdan - Associate Professor for Business Studies and Accounting

This week, on behalf of School of Accounting, Finance and Economics I had the privilege of hosting the Accounting Industry Readiness Programme for Greenwich Business School students.

This amazing opportunity was provided by Waqas Yaqoob from KBM Training & Recruitment.

The programme marked a fitting culmination of the students' three-year academic journey, providing them with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they have developed throughout their studies in a practical, professional setting using real client data.

The final-year BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance students over two intensive days on campus, gained hands-on experience using Sage Accounting software, working on the full process from data entry, through transaction processing to preparing final accounts and VAT returns.

This practical learning experience enabled them to bridge the gap between theory and practice while strengthening their digital literacy, professional competencies, and employability skills.

I was particularly pleased to see the enthusiasm, engagement, and professionalism demonstrated by the students as they tackled real-world business scenarios and developed a deeper understanding of industry expectations.

On successful completion of the programme, students will be awarded professional Sage certifications, recognised by both ACCA and AAT, that will further enhance their career prospects as they enter graduate job market.

A huge thank you to Waqas Yaqoob for delivering such an insightful and engaging programme, sharing invaluable industry expertise, and providing my students with a genuine understanding of the opportunities and expectations within today's job market.

University of Northampton

Dawn Davidson - Employer Engagement Officer

Over the last few weeks something exciting has been happening at the University of Northampton!

Our Accounting and Finance students have been having their very first practical accounting session with a leading training provider specialising in Accounting, Finance, Taxation, Audit, and Business Administration - KBM Training & Recruitment, linked to ACCA accreditation.

This was a super hands-on experience for our students, giving them the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge to real-life business scenarios using Sage Accounting software.

From basic data entry all the way through to preparing final accounts, students experienced what accounting looks like in practice.

Over the course of this intensive 3-day on site programme and 4-day online programme, students will also receive advanced Excel training to further strengthen their digital literacy and employability skills.

And on successful completion they will achieve two professional certificates in Sage Accounting and Excel, recognised by ACCA and AAT.

A huge thank you to Waqas Yaqoob, Business Development Manager and Director in KBM, and one of our amazing alumni, Sheeza Majeed, who both generously shared years of invaluable industry experience with our students across all levels, from Level 4 through to Level 7, delivering the sessions with incredible patience and enthusiasm.

This opportunity would not have become a reality without the support of the Accounting and Finance team at UON and the collaborative efforts of everyone involved.

Special thanks to Doa'a Al-Jamal, Freshta Amanullah, Anna Poole, Charlotte Agnew and Tinashe Chikuzah who helped make this initiative possible.

Global Banking School

Mohammad Borojerdi - Associate Dean

Today, something truly exciting happened!

Our Accounting and Finance students from the Greenford Campus had their very first practical accounting session with a leading training provider specialising in Accounting, Finance, Taxation, Audit, and Business Administration - KBM Training & Recruitment - as a Gold ACCA Partner.

This was a fantastic hands-on experience for our students, giving them the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge to real-life business scenarios using Sage software.

From basic data entry all the way through to preparing final accounts, students experienced what accounting looks like in practice.

Over the course of this intensive 3-day programme, students will also receive advanced Excel training to further strengthen their digital literacy and employability skills.

Even better, upon completion they will achieve two professional certificates in Sage and Excel, recognised by ACCA and AAT.

A huge thank you to Waqas Yaqoob, the Business Development Manager and Director in KBM, who generously shared years of invaluable industry experience with our students across all levels, from Foundation through to Level 6, delivering the sessions with incredible patience and enthusiasm.

This opportunity would not have become a reality without the support of the Business Advisory Board at GBS and the collaborative efforts of everyone involved.

Special thanks to James Kennedy, Simeon Keates, Professor Peter Flew and Diane Bray who helped make this initiative possible.

East London, Birmingham, Leeds, and Manchester campuses... get ready - you're next!

University of East London

Richard Otoo FCCA - Programme Director, Accounting and Finance

We were delighted to welcome Waqas Yaqoob to the Tax and Accountancy Clinic at the University of East London, where he delivered insightful talks on employment to our Level 6 students, providing them with valuable perspectives on career readiness.

A big thank you to Constantinos Roussis and the UEL Career Zone for organising and inviting him.

Special thanks as well to Eric Boahen for accommodating the session within the lecture and encouraging strong student participation, to Bhagirath Jain for supporting the session, and to Richard Otoo for his continued support.

University of the West of Scotland

Dr Attahir Abubakar - Programme Leader, Accounting and Finance

Today, the MSc Accounting and Finance students at UWS London Campus completed a two-day training programme on Sage 50, an industry-standard financial management software.

Many thanks to Waqas Yaqoob and Noman Akber of KBM Training & Recruitment for delivering such engaging and stimulating sessions, which the students thoroughly enjoyed.

The support of Dr Mariana Dodourova, Dr Svetla Stoyanova-Bozhkova, and Dr Sin Wee Lee is greatly appreciated.

Strengthening industry links and enhancing employability remain central to our programmes!

Arden University

Dr Dinusha Weerawardane - Head of Department, Accounting and Finance

Loads of energy and smiles all around from our Accounting students at the Manchester campus during the 2-day Sage workshop conducted by Waqas Yaqoob from KBM Training & Recruitment!

And a big thank you to my students for the surprise flowers!

University of West London

Erfan Ovee Nomaan - Programme Leader, BSc Accounting and Finance

Our Accounting and Finance students recently participated in an engaging series of practical accounting workshops delivered by KBM Chartered Certified Accountants & Registered Auditors.

These employer-led, hands-on sessions provided students with the opportunity to apply their classroom learning to real business scenarios using Sage Accounting software.

From processing day-to-day transactions to preparing financial reports and final accounts, students gained valuable insight into how accounting is carried out in a professional practice.

As part of the intensive three-day programme, students also completed Advanced Excel training, enhancing their digital skills, analytical capabilities, and overall employability.

A special thank you to Waqas Yaqoob for sharing his extensive industry expertise with students across Levels 4 to 6.

His practical approach, enthusiasm, and commitment to student development helped create an engaging learning experience that has further prepared our students for successful careers in accounting and finance.

BPP University

Alastair Murray - Award Leader and Senior Lecturer

Thank you so much to Dr Dinusha Weerawardane, Olivia Grumitt, Abul Nurujjaman and Waqas Yaqoob for being such wonderful and inspiring panellists at our Accounting and Finance careers event tonight at BPP University, and for giving so much brilliant insight and advice to our students.

And thank you to my colleagues Trevor Garriock, Janki Amin, Raiesa Baig-Ali and Professor Jane Towers-Clark for making it such a successful event!

Your St John University

Dr Suzzie Aidoo - Programme Director

A sincere thank you to KBM Chartered Certified Accountants & Registered Auditors for delivering an excellent series of practical workshops for our students.

The sessions gave students the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge to real business scenarios while gaining hands-on experience.

The practical approach helped students develop valuable technical skills, increase their confidence, and gain a clearer understanding of the day-to-day responsibilities of finance professionals.

The positive engagement and enthusiasm shown by our students throughout the workshops reflected the value of this employer-led learning experience.

We look forward to continuing our collaboration with KBM to further enhance the employability and career readiness of our students.

Queen Mary University of London

To be added soon

De Montfort University

To be added soon

Capital City College

Jacqueline Dyett - Group Head of School for AAT

T Level Employability Session - Yesterday, our T Level Finance and T Level Accounting learners at Capital City College had the fantastic opportunity to take part in an engaging Employability Workshop hosted by Waqas Yaqoob from KBM Training & Recruitment Ltd.

Waqas shared valuable industry insights on what it takes to secure a role within the Accounting and Finance sector, including the importance of gaining recognised qualifications such as AAT, ACCA, or ICAEW, developing practical skills and work experience, achieving software certifications in Sage, Xero, and QuickBooks, and mastering professional CV writing and interview techniques.

The session was highly informative and gave our learners a real-world perspective on the expectations of employers, helping them to better prepare for their future careers.

Opportunities like this play a vital role in bridging the gap between education and employment, ensuring our learners are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed.

A sincere thank you to Waqas for delivering such an impactful session and for continuing to support the development of our future finance professionals.

Uxbridge College

Liam Plumridge - Assistant Director, Enhanced Skills and Employability

T Level Day 1. Business School Skills for Industry Week - Uxbridge College, HRUC (Harrow, Richmond & Uxbridge Colleges).

A brilliant start to this week focused on preparing our learners to focus on their skills for industry.

We had some excellent masterclasses delivered by a number of fantastic and inspiring employers, including an insightful masterclass on what it takes to succeed in the world of finance from Waqas Yaqoob and Abdullah Khan from KBM Training & Recruitment.

Thank you so much to all of our employers for kicking off our first day of the week. Roll on Day 2!

Morley College

Yasmin Lenezi - Careers & IAG Officer

We are delighted to celebrate another successful collaboration between Morley College London and KBM Training & Recruitment as part of KBM's commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Our accounting students have successfully completed their Sage 50cloud Accounting training, equipping them with valuable digital accounting skills that complement the knowledge gained throughout their accounting course.

During the training, students gained hands-on experience of the complete accounting lifecycle, from recording purchase transactions through to VAT submission.

They also produced 12 key accounting reports, giving them practical experience using industry-standard software and preparing them for the workplace.

To further enhance their employability, students will also undertake work placement at the KBM site, allowing them to apply their learning in a real business environment and develop the practical skills employers are looking for.

A huge thank you to Waqas Yaqoob and Abdulrahman Khan for their outstanding support, dedication, and commitment to developing the next generation of accounting professionals.

At Morley College London, we remain committed to supporting both our 16-18 learners and adult learners who have a lifelong learning mindset.

By bridging the gap between education and employment through industry partnerships, employability initiatives, and upskilling opportunities, we continue to help our students achieve their career aspirations and develop the skills, confidence, and experience needed to succeed.

Waltham Forest College

Arfan Emanuel - Business Engagement Executive

A huge thank you to KBM Chartered Certified Accountants & Registered Auditors for delivering the practical accounting training sessions last week.

The workshops provided our learners with valuable hands-on experience using industry-standard accounting software, helping them develop practical skills and a better understanding of how accounting works in a real business environment.

It was fantastic to see our learners gain confidence throughout the sessions.

The practical experience has given them greater confidence in applying for accounting and finance roles and has strengthened their readiness for the workplace.

We appreciate KBM's continued support in helping our students bridge the gap between education and employment.

West London College

Sajada Sajid - Assistant Principal

I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the time and energy you have generously dedicated to supporting our learners' journey.

Your motivational presence and innovative ideas have truly made a significant impact.

The way you introduced fresh approaches to enhancing our curriculum was both inspiring and practical, and it has sparked a lot of excitement among the AAT team and our learners.

I deeply appreciate your flexibility and your willingness to support us as we move forward.

Thank you once again for your support and encouragement. I look forward to the chance to collaborate with you again soon.

Harrow College

Laurelle White - Employability Development Officer

Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting KBM Training & Recruitment who have been hosting work experience for many of our HRUC (Harrow, Richmond & Uxbridge Colleges) Level 3 students over the past few weeks.

I was invited by Sumera Sajid to hand out certificates to this week's group of students who were all so thrilled to have completed such meaningful work experience.

The students have been learning about different accounting software such as Sage 50 and have been able to download all of the brilliant work they have been doing.

We are super proud of the hard work these students put in to their work experience and are excited for the future placement opportunities that have been provided by KBM!