KPMG boosts its UK apprenticeship programme by 40%
KPMG has boosted its apprenticeship intake by 40%, with new intake dispersed over the firm's regional offices. Most of the new apprentices join the KPMG360° programme, which ultimately offers the same professional qualifications as the firm's graduate entrants, as the focus on apprenticeships attempts to boost diversity at the firm by broadening the backgrounds of future employees.
The UK arm of KPMG, with its 22 offices and 13,500 staff across Britain, has upped its intake of apprenticeship hires by 40% on last year, up from 129 to 181. In total, 387 people have been hired into the scheme since the firm started offering the alternative route into its ranks.
The professional services firm, like its rivals, is developing a broader set of inflow channels to pick up those called to the industry early. The move to apprenticeships reflect, in part, a wider push by the UK Government to support apprenticeships in the wider UK economy – largely through its Apprenticeship Levy whereby businesses, large and small, are provided funds each year to support a number of apprenticeships.
The firm remarks that the use of such schemes has become a key part of its recruitment strategy, allowing the firm to draw from a more diverse pool of talent, with incoming recruits now bringing a wider range of backgrounds and experiences to the firm and its clients. The new intake also sees 118 applicants drawn from multiple geographical regions beyond London, with various locations such as Southampton, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and Cambridge providing a wide access to new talent across the UK.
The majority of the new apprentices join the professional and consulting firm’s six-year ‘KPMG360° apprenticeship programme,’ which offers a broad base of experience across its audit, tax and advisory segments before candidates can opt to specialise in a specific area. Successful apprentices will take the same professional qualifications as graduate entrants following the programme. The remaining graduates will take up business administration roles, following the completion of a level three accreditation in the subject – allowing them to work across the firm in ‘administrative roles, facilities and creative design’.
“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,” said Karl Edge, Regional Chairman in the Midlands.
“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,” commented Kathryn Roberts, Apprenticeship Programmes Lead at KPMG in the UK.
