Ideal Schools win big at LUCA awards

The winners of the 7th annual LUCA awards, the highlight of the bookkeeping calendar, has been announced at the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) Global Annual dinner.

Students and tutors from Ideal Schools, specialist UK-wide e-learning college concentrating exclusively on bookkeeping and accounting, won in four categories.

The LUCA awards, named after Luca Paciolo, the Cisterian monk credited with inventing the process of double entry bookkeeping, were presented by ICB Global’s Royal Patron, HRH Prince Michael of Kent at a glittering event at Mansion House, London.

Ideal Schools Students Michelle Smith and Terry Ramm both took home statuettes; Scot Van den Akker, Director & Tutor at the e-learning college, was awarded Tutor of the Year; and Brian McVean, Director, accepted the trophy for Most Effective Use of Social Media on behalf of Ideal Schools.

Michelle Smith, 46, who recently addressed the Scottish Parliament and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce as a tireless advocate for women entrepreneurship, won the Best Large Practice Award for ValueAdd Business Solutions. Ms Smith was a finalist for Scottish Businesswoman of the year in 2015.

Terry Ramm, 64, who retired from a 17 year career in management in Canada, and returned to Lincoln to start up his own practice, TLR Bookkeeping and taxation, won the coveted Student of the Year Award.

Mr Ramm won Ideal School’s own Student of the Year Accolade in October.

Ms Smith said: “I’m delighted to have won this award and have my contribution to bookkeeping recognised in this way. Ideal Schools gave me an excellent grounding in the skills needed to provide the best for our customers.”

Mr Ramm said: “This award is the cherry on top of a great year for me; with all the work with the college, the Student of the Year award last month, and the business going from strength to strength.”

The LUCA awards are the finale of the UK bookkeeping year, following on from the ICBUK Summit in October, and leading into the tax preparation season at the end of the financial year.