Newport-based law firm Convey Law is on track to reach 100 employees for the first time after a huge recruitment drive to meet business demands following a period of rapid growth.

As one of the largest specialist conveyancing companies in the UK, the company acts for a wide range of private and corporate clients including estate agency chains, mortgage lenders and mortgage broker networks.

The company, which currently has 88 members of staff is responding to increased demands by running a graduate recruitment drive which will take the company’s workforce to over 100.

The 2016 recruitment drive will boost its workforce by 30 per cent with 25 posts available for paralegals and junior conveyancers.

Central to the company’s growth plan is the implementation of a new in-house training and development programme, which has been specifically designed for not only those joining the company, but also those of all ages who are progressing through the ranks.

Delivering effective employee training programmes is key to Convey Law’s overall business strategy and has enabled the business to attract and retain some of Wales’ most talented law graduates. Furthermore, a recent review has seen staff turnover fall from 6.3 per cent to just 1.1 per cent.

Since introducing the scrupulous training programmes, Convey Law has seen an unprecedented rise in employee performance, including an increase in staff achievement, key targets and number of conveyancing teams achieving record figures in relation to exchange of contracts.

Convey Law’s commitment to training has been recognised through the prestigious Gold Investors in People accreditation, as well as being shortlisted in the international Investors in People 2016 awards. Convey Law also won the Commitment to Skills and People Development award at the South Wales Business Awards and has been named as ‘One to Watch’ in the Sunday Times Best 100 Companies to work for in 2016.

Under its Age of Investment campaign, Welsh Government is urging firms to view the skills of their staff as an essential asset in which they need to invest time and money in order to progress and succeed.

Lloyd Davies, managing director of Convey Law said: “We fully understand the need to train and develop people in order to get the best out of them; which in turn enables us to provide the best possible service to our clients. Our recruitment and training of law graduates means that we have developed a structured programme for career development in place, enabling graduates joining Convey Law’s team to become Licensed Conveyancers within 18 months to two years.”

Businesses are being called upon to take a lead from employers like Convey Law who ensure that training and development is core to its overarching long-term growth strategy.

The most recent Employer Skills Survey showed that 63 per cent of the 6,000 Welsh employers covered had provided some training in the previous 12 months, with 49 per cent providing on-the-job training and 49 per cent offering off-the-job training

Most recently, Convey Law has recruited a full-time in-house trainer to support the development of its own bespoke, online training course. This additional support and training has seen nine members of staff promoted to junior conveyancers, with seven more due to be promoted in the next few months.

Law degree graduate Brie Harris, from Tredegar, secured a role at Convey Law in 2014 as a trainee paralegal and is now excelling in a Junior Brie said: “Convey Law’s graduate drive has been a great experience so far. There are plenty of opportunities for further learning, such as seminars and training courses and the support and mentoring network is fantastic. The company ethos is for everyone to be the best that we can be and to excel and move on within the company.”

Julie James, Minister for Skills and Science urged more employers to invest in the skills of the workforce: “Higher skill levels are essential to the future of competitiveness of Wales but, achieving the degree of upskilling required, means that more employers must be willing to invest their own resources in training and development.

“Welsh Government remains completely committed to supporting the development of skills across Welsh industry – particularly in the priority sectors – but, in order to make a real difference to our wealth creation capacity as a nation, more employers must play their part and increase their investment in their workers of all ages.”