Here’s why
KPMG’s 2017 recruitment drive has seen a 40 per cent increase in the number of apprenticeship hires, up from 129 in 2016 to 181 this year. The record intake brings the total number of young people recruited into the firm’s apprenticeship schemes to 387.
Kathryn Roberts, Apprenticeship Programmes Lead at KPMG in the UK said:
“Over the last three years our apprenticeship schemes have become an increasingly important part of our recruitment strategy. We believe that recruiting a combination of graduates and apprentices encourages a wide range of people with different skills and experiences to join us – all of which contributes to the diversity of thought we are able to bring to our clients.
“A central component of expanding our schemes involves making different locations – such as Southampton, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and Cambridge – available to our apprentices, ensuring we are able to access previously untapped talent pools around the country.”
Two thirds of KPMG’s new apprentice roles (118) will be based in regional offices as the firm continues to invest heavily in its regional business.
Karl Edge, Regional Chairman in the Midlands, commented:
“I am immensely proud that our apprenticeship programme is enabling so many talented young people to join our team in Birmingham.
“The city is booming and offers fantastic opportunities for apprentices and graduates to work on some of our biggest client projects. Our apprenticeship programme is an excellent training ground for a career with KPMG, offering a mix of study and work experience, and it is this combination that enables the students to get a broad, in-depth knowledge and experience from day one.
“The benefits of having young people from different backgrounds in the workplace are second to none. From a fresh pair of eyes on a problem, to a different perspective on a project, the learning experience is absolutely two-way. I’m thrilled to be welcoming our new apprentices as they embark upon their career with us. They are the future of our firm.”
150 of the new apprentices will join the six-year KPMG 360o apprenticeship programme, which sees them gain experience working across all areas of the firm, including audit, tax and advisory, before choosing to specialise in a particular area. A successful apprentice who completes the programme in full will progress to sit their professional qualification and will be qualified to exactly the same levels as their graduate colleagues.
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