Explosive appointment for former weapons engineer

Former Royal Navy weapons engineer Gemma Swann is hoping to make a big impact at a South Coast accountancy firm.

After eight years at sea, the 31-year-old has set her sights on a new career in the financial sector as a VAT Assistant with Princecroft Willis (PcW).

Gemma, who is married with a five-year-old son, has joined PcW’s VAT team based at Towngate House in Poole, Dorset.

Her Royal Navy career began in communications on board HMS Southampton before transferring to weapons engineering.

After successfully completing her engineering apprenticeship she became part of the ship’s helicopter deck team where her duties included prepping missiles for launch.

Gemma went on to serve on HMS Nottingham and then the new Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond, spending three years bringing the ship into active service and testing all its weapons equipment including the Principal Anti Air Missile System (PAAMS).

Simon Anslow, PcW’s VAT Partner said: “Gemma brings a completely new perspective and dynamic to the team, enabling us to set our sights higher and help target a wider market.”

PcW has offices in Poole and New Milton and offers a full range of accounting services from audit to taxation.

Locally based, independent and with strong community roots, the firm has ten partners and more than 100 team members.