Accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO LLP is recruiting more than 130 apprentices across its UK offices, including nine in the North West across the firm’s Manchester and Liverpool offices.
Applications for the apprenticeship programme, designed for students who have completed their A-level studies (or equivalent), are now open until 24th March 2024. Successful candidates will start at BDO in September 2024.
In addition to the apprenticeship hires, September will also see the firm welcome more than 650 people to its graduate trainee programme across the UK and more than 112 industrial placement students who will spend a year working at BDO in between their second and third year of university.
BDO is welcoming 46 graduate trainees and 41 industrial placement students across the North West.
As part of its commitments to increasing access to accountancy, BDO is also hiring candidates for its summer work experience and insight programmes.
Now in its third year, ‘Explore BDO’ is a three day insight programme aimed at improving social mobility and access to accountancy for those from less privileged backgrounds. The programme is open to students in years 11-13 who meet the lower socio-economic criteria and are looking to get a taste of what the world of accountancy might look like.
In addition to Explore BDO, the firm is also running its annual Black Heritage programme, aimed at first year university students. Both programmes are open to candidates from across the UK.
Angela Cross, Head of BDO in the North West, commented:
“We’re delighted to announce the growth of all of our early career programmes this year. This investment reflects the firm’s commitment to attracting and developing the brightest talent, whilst also striving to make the accountancy profession more accessible for everyone, no matter what their background.
“As a large employer of more than 7,500 people across the UK, our role in progressing the next generation of professionals has never been more important. We know one size does not fit all, so we hope that by offering a number of entry routes, we are creating opportunities for a wider range of people.”
She added:“Programmes like Explore BDO will continue to play a huge role in improving social mobility both in our industry and across the UK and it’s vital that BDO continues to play a part in this.”
Rachel Jackson, a tax trainee, started her apprenticeship with BDO in 2022 after taking part in the Explore BDO programme:
“Explore BDO gave me an insight into what a career at BDO and in accountancy might be like, as well as giving me the opportunity to be fast tracked into applying for an apprenticeship at BDO,” says Rachel.
“Of course, for many, university is about more than just the qualification but for me an apprenticeship has meant gaining real experience of the working world as soon as I finished school, whilst also getting the chance to gain a respected professional qualification.
“Going down this route means I qualify as chartered tax adviser more quickly than if I had gone to university, without accumulating any student debt and giving me the chance to earn while I learn.
“Doing a programme like Explore BDO or an internship before applying for an apprenticeship is really useful. You get to know the firm and its people before deciding whether it is somewhere you think you’d enjoy working. I’d recommend it to anyone considering a career in professional services.”
