PwC received 24,000 applications for graduate scheme
Consulting firm PwC has received a record high of 24,000 applications for its graduate scheme – 66 a day. This is a 66% increase in applications compared to last year that followed PwC’s doubling of its graduate places. Not only London experienced an increase, with almost half of PwC’s new graduate roles in regional offices, also the regions received a larger amount of applicants.
Big4 consulting firm PwC has received a record amount of 24,000 applications for its graduate scheme, translating into 66 a day. This record high is a 66% increase* of applications on last year’s application levels and follows PwC’s doubling of the number of graduate roles in consulting to 1,450 earlier this year. “Despite recent concerns about levels of university applications falling, graduates still represent the lion’s share of all our student applications,” comments Gaenor Bagley, Head of People at PwC, on the applications. PwC received its highest number of applications ever, across all student programmes this year. In total, almost 39,000 students applied for more than 2,000 placements. In addition to graduate places, PwC is offering school leaver and work placements, and paid internships. To attract more women to the consulting branch, PwC is also offering a female partner shadowing placement.
UK regions
Almost half of PwC’s new graduate roles are in regional offices, resulting in a high number of applicants in the regions as well. PwC’s Northern Ireland office in Belfast, for instance, received 1,800 applications for its 100 graduate positions. Paul Terrington, PwC Regional Chairman in Northern Ireland, comments: “Belfast is booming and offers brilliant opportunities for graduates and apprentices to work on some of our biggest client projects. We’ve received almost 1800 student applications this year, showing that the UK regions are an increasingly popular career choice.”
Despite the high number of application, PwC states that it is still useful to apply since it has a number of roles to fill. 25% of PwC’s technology vacancies are open to start in September, including roles in cyber security, data assurance and forensic technology, for which it seeks students from all degree disciplines. “It’s a common misconception that graduates who join our technology practice need a technology degree. We’re looking for graduate with a commercial mind-set and the drive to develop specialist skills with us,” says Richard Irwin, Head of Student Recruitment at PwC.
* This 66% increase translates to 12,453 applicants, or 22 applications for each role available.
