| Applications to professional services firm PwC, for their London based Higher Apprenticeship and School Leaver programme have risen 318% since the financial crisis began, as the City gears up for one of the largest ever Apprenticeship fairs in Hackney on Wednesday.
Applications from London and the surrounds to the firm’s school leaver programmes doubled last year to over 1000, as over 30 new Higher Apprenticeship jobs were created in the firm’s London Bridge and Embankment based Consulting and Tax teams. 40% of all applications nationwide for student level jobs were for London roles.
| |
|
|
PwC has recruited London school leavers for over ten years, and last year the firm launched the first ever nationally recognised Higher Apprenticeship for the professional services industry. The programme offers students the chance to earn while they learn, and work towards an internationally recognised industry qualification in tax, consulting or audit. This year the firm will recruit around 50 Higher Apprentices in London in Tax and Consulting.
Richard Irwin, head of recruitment said: “London’s always a popular choice for our graduate jobs, but the level of interest in the Higher Apprenticeship | |
| |
| helped them decide on a career.
However just 11% had the opportunity to hear from at least three working professionals before leaving school or college.
Gaenor Bagley, head of people, PwC said: “We have to demystify the world of work, business and young people’s options for study if we are to realistically attract a wider range of people to the professions and the City.
“With the routes into work and training changing so radically over the past five years, Higher Apprenticeships are a simple idea, with far –reaching consequences for development of | |
|
| business skills, to support UK growth.”
“The cost of raising awareness is low, and there is much to gain for both employers and students from events as simple as an open day, or presentation on how someone’s skills and training led them to the job they do.”
PwC will run a series of workshops at the Careers Fair, providing personal career stories from PwC's own staff on job options in the industry, a survival guide to job interviews and applications, and Q&As on Higher Apprenticeships at the firm with recent new joiners. | |
|