PwC adds 31 new starters to its East Midlands operation
BUSINESS advisory giant PwC has added 31 new starters to its East Midlands team, including graduates, higher apprentices and school leavers.
The autumn intake will see them join the 300-strong staff based at the regional head office next to East Midlands Airport in Castle Donington.
A spokesman for the business said it remained one of the biggest recruiters of graduates and school leavers across the country, with the Midlands intake including a further 219 recruits at its Birmingham office and 25 into Milton Keynes.
The figure of 275 new joiners is a new high for the region, and a quarter up on 2019.
The firm said 38 per cent of the new-starters were female, 45 per cent were from black and Asian backgrounds, 63 per cent from traditional state schools and 43 per cent from households where neither parent has completed higher education studies.
PwC is also welcoming more than 130 students who are participating in its Flying Start programme – a degree course run in conjunction with PwC, ICAEW, University of Nottingham Business School, University of Reading, Newcastle University and the University of Manchester Business School.
The programme allows students to study at university, as well as gaining practical paid work experience.
In addition, 42 students joined the third cohort of its technology degree apprenticeship programme with the University of Birmingham, where students enjoy a fully-funded degree, work placements and employment beyond.
Nationally, the firm has recruited more than 1,300 graduates, and over the summer 6,000 young people took part in PwC’s virtual work experience initiatives.
Ali Breadon, PwC’s new senior partner for the East Midlands office, said: “I am pleased to see how the “Class of 2020” has adapted so quickly with virtual inductions and immediately learning new ways of working.
“We recruit local talent including school leavers, higher apprentices and graduates from a diverse range of backgrounds because we want to actively invest in the next generation of future leaders from our region.
This year’s intake is the second group to have taken part in PwC’s tech-enabled application process, which includes game-based assessments and video interviews and the new recruits are now taking part in virtual inductions.
Ms Breadon said: “Attracting the next generation of talent is the future of our firm as we continue to deliver on our vision of being the leading tech-enabled professional services firm offering opportunities across all sections of society.”