KPMG to double school leaver intake in 2012

KPMG is to double its school leaver intake in 2012, the firm announces today, following the successful launch of its new School Leaver Programme. The first year’s intake of students has now joined the firm and will study for an accountancy degree at either Durham or Exeter Universities. The programme has attracted a wide variety of applicants, with two-thirds of school leavers from state schools or Further Education (FE) colleges compared to around half from the traditional graduate entry route. This initiative supports KPMG’s commitment to widening access into the accounting profession.

KPMG’s scheme is the only one in the accountancy sector that combines a job, a university degree with tuition fees paid, a professional accountancy qualification, and a salary.

KPMG opens its doors today to students who will be studying for their accountancy degree at the University of Exeter. They follow on from a first wave of students who will be studying at Durham University. Over 90 students have places on the scheme, which has received widespread interest from young people around the UK.

From September 2012, applicants will have the choice of doing their degree at the University of Birmingham in addition to Durham or Exeter.

Oliver Tant, Head of Audit at KPMG, said: “We are delighted to welcome the first intake of students onto our new School Leaver Programme. In its way, this represents a watershed in the development and history of KPMG. These students will get the best of both worlds – a company paid degree and a salary. We want to widen access into our profession for young people from all backgrounds. It is vital that we cast our net as wide as possible to seek out, and invest in, the very best people that are the future of our business. We also believe that employers have an important role to play in helping to meet the costs of higher education - as it is employers that benefit from the results of higher education, it seems only right that they should also contribute.

“At a time when many young people, graduates included, are finding it difficult to gain employment, this programme represents a credible alternative to mainstream university education and provides an attractive route into employment for talented students.

“We have been very encouraged by praise received from businesspeople, politicians and educationalists for the scheme. As a result, we encourage other businesses to pilot such schemes. Businesses need to help provide new models for the future.”

Rt Hon Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, said: “This KPMG programme provides new opportunities to enter a rewarding profession for people from a wide range of backgrounds. It is a great example of industry investing in the talents of bright young Britons.

“KPMG will reap the rewards of investing in young people whose skills will drive innovation and growth. I want to see more employers take bold and creative steps in partnership with education providers to secure Britain’s future prosperity.”

Professor Robin Mason, Dean, University of Exeter Business School, said: “We have been very pleased by the deserved popularity of the KPMG programme and are looking forward to welcoming the first student cohort onto our highly-regarded accounting degree.

“The Business School has grown considerably over the last four years; this growth has been supported with significant investment by the University, resulting in world-class facilities for students in the Business School. The School is well known for its strong relationships with many leading graduate employers. I’m sure that the programme will continue to attract some of the most talented school leavers and other leading edge companies will follow in KPMG’s footsteps.”

Professor Chris Higgins, Vice-Chancellor and Warden, Durham University, said: “We are pleased to welcome students onto this highly innovative programme which will provide them with the opportunity to gain a rigorous academic degree from one of the world’s leading universities and business schools, whilst also gaining a professional qualification and employment with KPMG, one of the world’s foremost blue-chip employers.

“Durham is a World Top 100 University and is recognised as one of the world’s top 15 universities from which leading global employers wish to recruit graduates. This innovative programme with KPMG continues our long and distinguished history of partnering with leading employers and sets a benchmark for the future.”

Over the next four years the students will divide their time between university and work experience at a KPMG office. KPMG will pay all tuition and university accommodation fees, in addition to a starting salary of around £20,000 (depending on location). Following completion of their degree, they will spend two years obtaining a professional accountancy qualification with all exam fees paid by KPMG.

The students will be based at KPMG offices around the country – from the firm’s Canary Wharf headquarters in London, to offices throughout the regions including Birmingham and Manchester, and Scotland.

Source: Consultant-news.com, Tuesday 20th September 2011