Career Progression means more than just a promotion

Let’s be honest: when most people hear “career progression,” they picture a shiny new job title or a step up the ladder. But at Shorts, we don't see it like that. Progression is about growing every day, picking up new skills, building confidence, and making a real difference for our clients and each other.

Sometimes that will mean a promotion, but often it’s about the little wins, the new things you learn, and the ways you stretch yourself (and help others do the same).

Skills that empower you (and our clients) 🌟

Progression isn’t just about ticking boxes, it’s about unlocking your potential and making a real difference for your team and the clients we support. When you grow, everyone wins! Whether you’re learning a new tool, deepening your expertise, teaming up across departments, or finding smarter ways to solve problems, every step forward boosts your impact, strengthens collaboration, and delivers more value. Plus, it feels great to see your progress pay off!

As one team member put it:

“ It was really interesting for me that Shorts saw the additional skills and abilities that I had, and then encouraged me to develop them, to take on the role that I'm now doing. I've really enjoyed that and appreciate the support that they gave me."
- Jo Grant

And another shared:

“Compared to when I joined, I feel very different, and it’s testament to the kind of work we do here and the opportunities that are available to anyone really.”
— Paschal Okonkwo

Your growth, your way🚀

There’s no one-size-fits-all path here. Some people want to move up, others want to move sideways, dive deeper, or try something totally new. We’re all about supporting your journey, whatever that looks like. Lana Reid, our Learning & Development Manager along with your team lead are there to help you figure out what you want, and how to get there.

One colleague described it like this:

“I joined as an apprentice and started off doing accounts. I was always fully supported through training. If I wasn't quite getting anything in the classroom, then somebody else who worked at Shorts was quite happy to go through things with me, to help me understand better. Obviously, they want you to pass the exams, but they weren't there putting the pressure on for that to happen.”
— Anita Purslove

And from another:

“Your manager works with you to help you make a decision of where you want to go and what you want to do… they’ve been quite open about different opportunities and different ways of progressing.”
— Jodie Hague

Why growth matters💡

Let’s face it: the world keeps changing, and so do our roles, ambitions and clients’ needs. If we’re not learning, we’re standing still while the world moves forward. That’s why we put so much focus on ongoing development - not just for Shorts, but for you. When you grow, your confidence grows, your impact grows, and (let’s be honest) work gets a lot more interesting.

Here’s how one team member sees it:

“They pay for my tuition. They give me breaks to study before I write the exam. So it’s really, really comfortable, because I feel like I have all the support I need to do my exams, which  is nice. And then with work, you get to see some of the things you’re studying so it makes it easier for you to retain the knowledge when you write the exams.”
— Paschal Okonkwo

And another:

“Mentoring isn’t just about technical skills - it’s about building confidence and belonging… everyone’s like, ‘No, it’s your job to ask. We’re invested in your time to develop you not only as an accountant, but as a person as well.’”
— Jack Daniels

Emma's personal story of progression

Emma Mosley’s journey is truly inspiring. From taking the initiative at university to reach out and secure a placement year with us, to continuing part-time while completing her final year, and then returning to Shorts full time as a Graduate Trainee - Emma has shown true commitment.

Along the way, she’s studied for her ACA qualifications, contributed across multiple teams, and earned a series of well-deserved promotions. Her story is one of grit, determination, and success. Read our blog of her full story here.

Work-life balance: The real foundation

Let’s not forget - none of this works if you’re burned out. Growth requires energy and burnout steals that energy. We know life outside work matters. Whether it’s picking up your kids, hitting the gym, or just having time to breathe, we want you to have that balance.

As one person put it:

“I think the work life balance has probably been a key selling point, which I moved for, more of a life outside of work… it’s been nice having evenings and options to do things and it feels like you’ve got a bit more freedom of your own time.”
— Charlotte Spencer

And another:

“I think the benefits, such as flexi time and being able to the ability to work from home a couple of days a week massively helps… it just means that I can be there for the important moments like sports day.”
— Jodie Hague

Community, belonging, and a bit of fun

To us, progression isn’t just about skills - it’s about feeling like you belong and have support in your growth journey. We’re proud of our friendly, supportive atmosphere. People here help each other out, celebrate wins, and make sure no one’s left behind. And of course, because we work hard, we also like to spend time outside of the office from time to time. 

“It really helps that everyone’s just been so helpful and friendly, and no question is too stupid. Everyone’s so willing to help. And I think my favourite bit of the induction process was setting up meetings with different people in different departments. So I got an idea of what different teams do and who these people are.”
— Charlotte Spencer

And:

“I do like a work social - I like to have a drink and a dance. And yeah, they are good; we try and have one most quarters, but it's just a nice atmosphere. You know, we have all-firm ones, and then we have department ones, and it's quite nice to see faces that you might not see all the time, whether it's within your department or across the firm.”
— Louis Johnson

The bottom line

Career progression isn’t a finish line, it’s a journey. Sometimes it’s a big leap, sometimes it’s a bunch of small steps and we’re here to support every part of that journey, however it looks for you.

So, what’s your next step? Whatever it is, we’re cheering you on and we'd love to speak to you if you're considering your next big move.  Visit our careers page for details of current vacancies and how to contact Laura Collins.