Chester students joined MPs, policy makers and finance professionals for the launch of a national initiative seeking to break down barriers to accountancy.

Fern Moffatt and Joel Austin, alongside senior lecturer Helen Clayfield, were invited to the event at the House of Commons.

The report from the Purpose Coalition is aimed at delivering equality of opportunity across the accountancy profession. 

The Purpose Coalition is chaired by former secretary of state for education and minister for women and equalities, Rt Hon Justine Greening - who is also a trained accountant.

It sets out insights and recommendations based on four key areas - outreach, access, recruitment and progression.

This follows the sector's efforts to attract and retain people from diverse backgrounds who are traditionally underrepresented in the profession as a result. 

Fern and Joel are both student voice representatives at the University of Chester.

Fern said: "It was a fantastic opportunity to travel to the House of Commons to attend the launch of the new project by the Purpose Coalition.

"I strongly support this project as I don't believe that any students' career should be limited due to their circumstances.

"It was reassuring to hear from accounting firms that are adopting this framework to be more inclusive in their recruitment processes. 

"I am so thankful to the University of Chester for this opportunity, with a special thank you to Helen for organising everything and coming along with us.

"I have made some amazing new connections as a result and feel more enthusiastic about going into the accounting industry after hearing about the effort that is going into this project."

Joel added: "I felt privileged to be invited to such an important event led by the Purpose Coalition, focusing on improving social mobility in the accounting profession.

"Speaking to firms, industry representatives and other students not only gave me a chance to network, but also gain valuable insights and a deeper understanding of what's being done to overcome challenges faced.

"Attending this event, has left me feeling more motivated about my future career and that with the right mindset, there's plenty of opportunities out there." 

The report is available online here.