From A-Levels to Global Recognition: RPL Apprentice Achieves Top 10 Ranking Worldwide

Telford, UK, 29 July 2026 — Daniel Hayward's apprenticeship journey highlights the value of learning, development and continuous improvement at Ricoh UK Products Ltd.

When Daniel Hayward joined Ricoh UK Products Ltd (RPL) shortly after completing his A-levels, he set out to gain practical experience whilst building towards a professional finance qualification. Three years later, that commitment to learning has earned him recognition amongst the highest-performing finance students in the world.

Dan, currently a third-year Finance Apprentice at RPL, has achieved joint 8th position globally in the May 2026 Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Management Case Study examination – a remarkable accomplishment in an assessment sat by thousands of candidates worldwide.

Scoring an impressive 125 out of a possible 150 marks, Dan's result places him amongst the top-performing candidates internationally, with an estimated 2,500–3,000 people taking the examination during the same sitting, and 10,000-12,000 annually.

A Global Achievement

The CIMA Management Case Study is widely regarded as one of the most demanding stages of the CIMA qualification pathway. Unlike traditional multiple-choice assessments, the examination requires candidates to apply everything they have learned throughout the Management level of the qualification in a realistic business environment.

Candidates are given extensive pre-seen materials and must complete a three-hour examination, responding to a range of scenario-based challenges as though they are working as a Finance Manager within a fictional organisation.

For Dan, the complexity of the examination was one of the factors that made the result particularly meaningful: “I was quite shocked when I found out. It's something I would never have expected. To be amongst the top 10 in an exam sat by thousands of people worldwide is pretty surreal.”

The achievement is even more impressive considering the global nature of the qualification. CIMA has members in more than 150 countries, with candidates from an estimated 50–80 countries represented in Dan's examination sitting.

Building a Career Through Apprenticeships

For Dan, choosing an apprenticeship route was a deliberate decision. Rather than following the traditional university pathway, he wanted to gain valuable workplace experience whilst working towards becoming a qualified accountant.

"For me, it made sense to get four years of practical experience working with professionals every day alongside my studies. Knowing that I could be a fully qualified Chartered Accountant by the time I'm 21 or 22, instead of leaving university at a similar age and then having to undertake further qualifications, was a huge benefit."

Since joining RPL, Dan has gained exposure to a wide variety of activities within the Finance function. Working alongside experienced colleagues and mentors, he has developed both technical knowledge and professional skills whilst contributing to major business initiatives.

These experiences have provided valuable opportunities to collaborate across the business and even present information to senior leadership teams and Operational Board members.

Said Dan: "Over the last three years, I've had the opportunity to learn from mentors and colleagues with decades of combined experience. I've worked on large projects, finance platform implementation and budgeting, which has allowed me to present to senior management and the Operational Board. That's been really valuable experience for me."

Support That Makes a Difference

Throughout his apprenticeship journey, Dan credits the support of RPL's Learning & Development team, mentors and colleagues as a key contributor to his success.

“(Learning & Development Officer) Claire Shepherd and my mentors always allow me adequate time to revise in the build-up to an exam, which helps relieve some of the stress. They also consistently check in with me about workload and give me opportunities to raise any concerns.”

Continuous Improvement in Action

At RPL, continuous improvement is more than a methodology—it's lived and breathed.

Ricoh’s Kaizen culture encourages colleagues to continually develop their knowledge, skills and capabilities, helping them realise their full potential while contributing to business success.

Learning & Development Officer, Claire Shepherd, commented: “Dan's achievement is a fantastic example of how a commitment to continuous improvement can lead to exceptional results. Through determination, ongoing learning and a willingness to challenge himself, he has achieved recognition on a global stage while continuing to develop as a finance professional.”

Looking Ahead

Although achieving a global top 10 ranking represents a significant milestone, Dan's professional journey is far from over.

“I have now completed the third level of CIMA, which brings me on to the final level of the qualification. I will sit four more exams over the next year – including another case study – an opportunity to aim for Top 10 again, bringing me to the end of my apprenticeship.”

Looking further ahead, Dan remains focused on continuing his development and building on the experience he has gained at RPL.