An expanding Hampshire accountancy and business advisory firm has taken on a host of new trainees to meet growing business demand.

HWB Chartered Accountants has appointed six new starters as the firm strives to grow its own talent to counter skills shortages. The Southampton-based firm has allocated the cohort across a range of business sectors to work with experienced staff and progress their skills and learn while working.

In the case of Accounts and Audit Trainee Dalbir Bhullar it is a warm welcome back to a familiar face as he did his placement year with the firm’s Payroll team before rejoining the accounts and audit team after graduating.

The other trainees are Tom Stanley (Tax Assistant), Tom Watson (Accountant), Sophie Murray-Cousens (Payroll Administrator) and Charlie Hodgson (Accounts AAT). Also among the starters is Marketing Administrator Olivia Bryant, who will do a marketing qualification.

Managing Director Tracy Jenkins said:

“I welcome our new recruits, who came to us after a robust selection process. We place a great emphasis on the skill, integrity and potential of every team member so we do not appoint lightly."

“Business continues to expand across all sectors, from larger companies to private individuals, and we as a firm must evolve to meet the challenge by growing organically and maintaining the level of customer service for which we are so renowned."

“We find that the optimum way of doing this is to attract and recruit the best young people, give them full hands-on training and offer them a clear career progression path. We are sure they will add significant value to our business."

“At HWB Chartered Accountants we are fully invested in the process of developing our business leaders of the future to provide the impetus to further grow the business across all sectors. A business is nothing without its people and we have a talented, dedicated and hard-working team across all disciplines. As head of the firm, nothing gives me more pleasure than to witness career trajectories successfully taking off.”

HWB Chartered Accountants, which was founded in 1985 as Hopper Williams & Bell and is based at Chandler’s Ford, near Southampton, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2025.

The firm provides accounting, tax and business advisory services to organisations across Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset & West Sussex and beyond.

Photo: The latest HWB recruits with Managing Director Tracy Jenkins, seated right, are from left, Tom Watson, Sophie Murray-Cousens (seated), Olivia Bryant, Tom Stanley, Dalbir Bhullar and Charlie Hodgson