The Business, Legal and Financial Services sector offers a diverse range of career options in well-paid jobs. All businesses, in every sector, require talented people to carry out their core business functions. For example a large business in the Life Sciences or Construction sector will have a legal, accountancy and business operations department. The many different career options mean there is plenty of scope for career progression and salary increases. The sector caters for a variety of different individual qualities and skills from mathematical ability to communication and people skills. Although some roles in this sector require degree education, a large amount offer routes via progression and apprenticeships. This sector is the biggest provider of apprenticeships across the county at various levels making it an accessible and thriving sector to work in.

Being the industry with the highest numbers, more than 600 apprenticeships were completed between 2019 and 2020.

(Data source: Herts Insight https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk)

Business, Financial and Legal Services in Hertfordshire

Financial, Legal and Business services thrive in Hertfordshire with close proximity to London and access to a growing pool of highly skilled, local and qualified talent, plus a pipeline of graduates from the University of Hertfordshire.

Hertfordshire is an attractive location for global and European headquarters and shared service centres. Its advantages include competitive costs, access to markets and global connectivity.

There are over 1,450 finance, consulting, accounting and legal firms in the county. The county’s extensive service sector includes specialisms in HQ operations, shared service centres, business process outsourcing and logistics. Hertfordshire is also home to top business schools. Ashridge Executive Education was ranked third in the UK by the Financial Times in 2017 and is home to the UK's leading business university.

Organisations range from large multi-national organisations including Barclays, Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, Baker Tilly, Pitney Bowes, Mercer & Hole and BDO to smaller localised businesses who operate in specialist areas such as Amber Mountain, Wagada and My Mustard who specialise in digital marketing and website consultancy, Amberside Accountancy and HB Accountants providing financial advice and Crane & Staples and Debenham-Ottaway providing expert legal support.

Hear from some of our Hertfordshire residents who have established their careers within the business services sector in our HOP into video:

Training courses and qualifications

The top skills you need to work in the finance, business or legal services include commercial awareness, team working, communication skills, numeracy, problem solving, networking and personal impact. As well as being able to study Level 3 qualifications such as Business, Law and Economics through school sixth forms many of our FE colleges support qualifications in Business, Legal and Financial Careers giving you an ideal opportunity to enhance your CV and equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to enter this sector. 

You may be self-employed or run a micro business if you are in this sector and entrepreneurial and business skills are important. Visit our business start-up hub to find out all your need to go out and get enterprising.

JOB ROLES
Take a look at some job roles in the Business and Finance and Law and Legal sector.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are one way to start a career in Business, Legal and Financial Services.

You can find out more detail on what each apprenticeship qualification involves through the Institute of Apprenticeships. Learn all about apprenticeships here.