Bishop Fleming

A South West and Midlands accountancy and business advisory firm that trains large intakes of apprentices, graduates and school leavers each year.

About Bishop Fleming

Bishop Fleming is a firm of accountants and business advisers. It helps owner-managed businesses, charities, schools and individuals with audit, accounts, tax and advice, and it works across sectors that include healthcare, housing associations, education, construction, technology, food and drink and hospitality. Its own introduction says it has over 9,000 clients.

We did not find the year it was founded or who started it. It is a partnership based in the South West and Midlands, with nine UK offices listed in its introduction: Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Cheltenham, Exeter, Plymouth, Torquay, Truro and Worcester. Andrew Sandiford is named as Managing Partner. The firm says it has over 50 partners and over 500 people, and it is a member of Kreston Global, an international network of independent accounting firms.

Its stated ambition is “to be the most rewarding accountancy firm in the UK” for clients, people and communities. Its values are: think client; put relationships at the heart; work as one team; have the courage to be different; and do the right thing. It also has a “1% for Communities” pledge, committing the equivalent of 1% of turnover to volunteering and fundraising, and is a member of Business in the Community.

Services include external and internal audit, cloud accounting, company secretarial work, corporate and personal tax, VAT, valuations, corporate finance, restructuring, forensic accounting, and trusts and probate. The firm says it listens to clients through a programme called Engage.

Bishop Fleming says its apprenticeship programme was rated Outstanding by Ofsted and that it is one of only 18 employer providers to receive that rating. It is also certified as a Great Place to Work (2025) and an ICAEW Partner in Learning, and it was named a DfE Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer; these are the firm's own claims. In September 2023 it took on 74 new recruits (43 graduates, 26 school leavers and 5 placement students), and later headlines mention over 70 new apprentices in 2025. A 100-day induction plan was reported for new trainees. Its school leaver ACA apprenticeship listing for Plymouth describes a five-year Level 7 route to ACA or ACA/CTA, asking for three A Levels at BBC or above and nine GCSEs at grades 9 to 5, including Maths at grade 6. Trainees join the Audit team or a Launch Pad scheme that rotates across teams, work with clients in different sectors, and take part in business development, community and social activities. The firm describes a “refreshingly different, people-focussed culture” and flexible working. Salary was not shown on the listing, so check the careers site for current pay and dates.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Accounts, tax, VAT and compliance for businesses and individuals.', 'title': 'Accountancy and tax'}
• {'desc': 'Audit, valuations, corporate finance and advice for owner-managed firms.', 'title': 'Audit and business advice'}
• {'desc': 'Graduate, school leaver and placement routes, including a five-year ACA apprenticeship.', 'title': 'Early careers'}

Key facts

• Nine UK offices: Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Cheltenham, Exeter, Plymouth, Torquay, Truro, Worcester
• Over 50 partners and over 500 people; over 9,000 clients (own introduction)
• Own claim: apprenticeship programme rated Outstanding by Ofsted, one of 18 employer providers
• September 2023: 74 new recruits (43 graduates, 26 school leavers, 5 placement students)
• School leaver ACA apprenticeship (Plymouth listing): 5 years, BBC at A Level, 9 GCSEs at 9 to 5

Website: www.bishopfleming.co.uk