ACCOUNTANCY firm Campbell Dallas has taken on two new staff who are at opposite ends of the experience spectrum as part of its growth strategy.

Liz Thomson, a tax manager, has 27 years in the sector and joins the firm's Glasgow headquarters from Bannerman Johnstone Maclay.

Campell Dallas has also hired 17-year-old Kayleigh Hagen as part of an industry-recognised accountancy scholarship scheme.

The teenager has joined the Stirling office.

Previously she was one of 18 people from an initial pool of 300 to qualify for a scholarship with training organisation Kaplan, which was worth around £15,000 to those involved.

She will now be given the opportunity to continue her accountancy training on the job with a view to obtaining a range of further qualifications.

The mid-tier firm's human resources director Yvonne Anderson said: "Campbell Dallas is delighted to have secured Kayleigh as one of our Association of Accounting Technicians students for our 2014 intake.

"She impressed us throughout our recruitment and selection process and we believe she will be a great asset to our firm."

Campbell Dallas said it had also taken on 12 trainees this year.

Its staff numbers are currently around 155 with 17 partners.

Chris Horne, managing partner, said the firm had created around 30 posts in recent years by promoting staff from within into more senior roles but it was still open to hiring candidates externally.

Mr Horne said: "We have been working to secure new business and successful management teams are critical to sustaining the momentum."