PwC announces new Bradford base for 2019
As PwC continues a nation-wide reshuffle of its resources to ensure its UK firm is well-positioned to help clients in a period of uncertainty, it has announced a new office in Bradford. According to Senior Partner Kevin Ellis, the new location will open its doors in January next year.
As the UK closes 2018 with arguably even less political and economic certainty than it started with, many firms are seeking external advice on their business plans for the coming period. To better match this morphing regional need, PwC has been working to expand or consolidate its operations across the UK to better match the demands of clients in each area.
Earlier in the year, the firm said it would grow its presence in the UK’s second city in 2019, moving to a new office in Birmingham. However, the firm is expected to close six regional offices: two internal memos leaked to the British media revealed PwC’s intent to close its 40-strong Hull presence, as well as offices in Sheffield, Plymouth, Liverpool, Norwich, Swansea and Dungannon, in Northern Ireland. Now, PwC has revealed that it will be staffing a new Bradford base in the coming year.
In an article from news site Medium.com, Kevin Ellis, Senior Partner at the Big Four firm, declared that a base is due to open in the city in January. At present, the exact location of the office has not been confirmed, but the announcement means Bradford will join fellow Northern hubs Manchester, Leeds, Hull and Newcastle in benefitting from the firm's presence.
Ellis said he hoped the opening of the office in January would help increase PwC's impact. At the same time, he used the piece to highlight why the firm has chosen Bradford, stating it will enable the firm to meet the UK Government's priority areas for raising education standards and promoting social mobility for young people.
"We have one in nearby Leeds, but the interns we speak to from Bradford say the distance can feel insurmountable when you feel part of a very different community," Ellis stated. "So alongside our work with schools there, it will hopefully help bridge the gap to work. "The office will focus on a range of audit tasks, developing skills and boosting employability irrespective of background.”
Welcoming the news, Nick Garthwaite, President of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said, “For a business the size of PwC to come into Bradford is a positive and healthy statement. It will create new jobs, bring in additional investment and enhance the city’s profile across the region and beyond. PwC have demonstrated a firm commitment to helping to increase social mobility and raise aspirations and education standards and are to be applauded for that. We look forward to welcoming them with open arms.”
Agreeing, Alison Hedley, Employer & Placement Services Manager at the University of Bradford, remarked, “This new Bradford base will help students at all levels in the city see a career with PwC as something they can relate to. The University has a strong record in working with local employers to develop employability in students and graduates, most of whom wish to stay in the area on graduation, so a new local PwC office is welcome news and we look forward to building on our already strong links with a major employer in the region.”