Accountancy firm Forrester Boyd has appointed Oliver Hopwood as a trainee, marking a continued expansion of its Leeds operation. Oliver joins as part of the firm’s 2026 Trainee Academy intake, which also includes six other recruits across its offices. After completing his induction at Forrester Boyd’s Grimsby headquarters, he has begun his accountancy career in Leeds while combining professional study with on-the-job experience.
The appointment coincides with the firm’s decision to transform a local care site into affordable homes. [1] This project demonstrates a commitment to the community while supporting a vital social cause.
Leeds office growth and new recruits
Forrester Boyd opened its Leeds office in April 2025. The team has since doubled in size. The office now provides accountancy, audit, tax, and business advisory services to clients across Yorkshire.
Forrester Boyd launched its Trainee Academy in 2024 to provide a structured development pathway for people entering the profession. The firm has a long history of hiring from within, with 13 of its 17 partners beginning their careers as trainees. Leeds lead partner Richard Walker is one of those partners.
“It is fantastic to welcome Oliver to our Leeds team,” Richard said. “We are building a strong presence in the city and growing a team that can support businesses across Leeds and the wider region with the breadth of expertise they need.”
Related: Care site transformed into affordable homes
“Having started my own career as a Forrester Boyd trainee, I know first-hand where that first opportunity can lead,” he continued. “Our Trainee Academy is about more than professional development. It gives our trainees a community of people at different stages of the same journey, where they can learn from one another, share experiences and build relationships across the firm.”
Local focus and wider resources
Richard noted that the firm aims to combine a strong, locally focused Leeds team with the expertise and resources of the wider Forrester Boyd firm. Oliver will have the opportunity to develop his career as part of both structures.
Traditional graduate schemes often isolate trainees in isolated environments. Forrester Boyd’s model emphasizes peer interaction across the entire organization. This approach addresses a common critique of large corporate training programs, where junior staff are sometimes siloed rather than integrated into the broader company culture.
“Our ambition is to combine a strong, locally focused Leeds team with the expertise and resources of the wider Forrester Boyd firm,” Richard said. “Oliver will have the opportunity to develop his career as part of both and I’m delighted to have him joining us.”
