FOURTEEN new recruits have joined Dodd & Co.

The usual training procedures see new members of the Dodd & Co team spending their first two weeks in ‘Doddie School’, held in the office with an in-house specialist team of trainers.

Due to the pandemic, Dodds are holding the new starter training via Zoom over the course of two months, with training blended into working in the office and from home, to ensure that social distancing can be maintained.

The new intake increases Dodd & Co’s workforce to a team of more than 180 across both Carlisle and Penrith offices.

Joining the firm from various different backgrounds including school leavers, graduates and other business backgrounds, Emira Conlon, Emma Brough, Natalie Bolton, Barry Conlon, Dean Batey, Mathew Wragg, Kieron Long and Emma Slack have joined the team in the Carlisle office.

Will Hindle, Jonathan Foster, Aimee Eckford, Lauren Bates, Tyler Slack and Freya Nash-Ceen will be based in the Penrith office.

Alison Johnston, partner with Dodd & Co, said: “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to welcome more staff to our growing team.

"Even in these very uncertain times, we remain extremely proud of our current staff for their ability to adapt quickly and maintain our fantastic client service.

"Especially during these trying times for many businesses, it is of upmost importance that we continue to help and guide our clients through this pandemic.

"We continue to be delighted to invest in training and professional development opportunities for the new staff in various areas of the business.

"With the help of government apprenticeship funding, we are able to invest in more training, and give opportunities to younger and older people from this perspective, which would otherwise be very difficult in the current market.

"We wish all of our new Doddies the very best as they begin their careers with us, and we look forward continuing Doddie school in the years to come.”