Programme Conference 2025

On September 28th we welcomed nearly 150 special guests to our Programme Conference at The Trades Hall Glasgow - the biggest ever gathering of our students and mentors.

Every year we bring together new students and mentors as they join the programme, but this year we wanted to go bigger, inviting all our students and mentors to our first Programme Conference - a celebration of achievement, a networking opportunity, and chance to learn and contribute.

We made a short film to capture some of the energy on the day - watch it here

 

This year we welcomed a record 48 new students, well on our way to tripling the number of students we support by 2030. To support these students, we also welcomed 25 new mentors from across the UK.

Our work is made possible by our partners, our mentors and our supporters.

The event was sponsored by Consilium Chartered Accountants and Dains (Scotland) and opened by Consilium founding partner David Holt. It was also great to welcome colleagues from ICAS , AAB and SSE plc to our panel sessions, where they joined current students, alumni and mentors to offer advice, support and encouragement.

For the first time we had a panel of current students, chaired by alumna and new ICAS Foundation trustee Eryn Paterson CA. Mentors had the benefit of hearing from three experienced CAs – who between them have mentored 12 Foundation students over ten years. You can read more from panellist Elizabeth Young CA in the interview she gave earlier this summer.  For the afternoon session, we split students according to their stage of study – so they could be with their mentors whilst discussing ways to make the best start, or ways to focus on career options.

There are two golden threads in our work, that were evident at the event.

The first is talent - we are a talent programme, and our students all have the talent to go far. The other is resilience. Our students have often overcome major challenges to get to, and through the programme.

Our programme is called the Nurturing Talent Programme for that reason. The talent is there – and it's our job to help it thrive.  What's abundantly clear is that doing so takes the combined efforts of our mentors, our partners, our supporters and our staff. The path isn't always easy, but the talent remains constant.  

Ultimately, it's our students themselves that find the way, take the opportunities created - and then find success. As our alumni leap forward in the profession, they are creating an example to the students that follow, and changing the profession for the better.

It’s quite something to hear students, and mentors reflect on the difference the Foundation can make. This year we made a film at the event – to share some of the energy and to help tell the stories of our students and mentors.

We do still have a few mentor slots for this academic year – in London, Portsmouth, Lancaster, Dundee, Stirling and Glasgow. If you, or someone in your network might be interested, find out more.