PwC technology degree link-up with university

will work with PwC in the same city as they are studying.

The initiative is one of the first examples of the new Level 6 Degree Apprenticeships in action.

Students will be PwC employees from day one and will be paid a salary throughout their course. At the end, those meeting performance criteria will earn a degree in Computer Science and a job at PwC.

Kevin Ellis, chairman and senior partner at PwC, said: “For the UK to prosper post-Brexit we need to invest in creating a vibrant tech sector right across the country and more people with the skills needed to help businesses transform. The demand for technology advice is rapidly increasing, while the pool of available tech talent is shrinking and could be impacted further by Brexit.

“To meet these challenges we need to be even more innovative in the way we develop skills and recruit people. Our new technology degree apprenticeship is an exciting new way for us to start to grow the future of the UK’s technology industry at a much earlier stage and to open up these careers to a wider range of students from across the country.”

PwC research revealed over two thirds (67 per cent) of UK chief executives find it difficult to recruit people with digital skills, higher than their global peers. Recruiting women with these skills is particularly challenging and separate research found only 27 per cent of female A-level and university students would consider a career in technology. PwC therefore hopes to target its technology degree apprenticeship towards encouraging more young women into technology careers.

Professor Jon Binner, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Birmingham, said: “We are delighted to develop this four-year course with PwC, which will provide our students with the skills set, expertise and experience that are highly in-demand from industry. Like PwC, we too believe in addressing the UK’s technology skills gap and improving the industry’s diversity, and are proud to be instrumental in educating the industry’s future talent.”