Business advisory firm Deloitte is giving more school and college leavers across the North East the opportunity of a career in professional services, without the need for a university degree.
Three more students have joined the BrightStart Higher Apprenticeship programme at Deloitte’s Newcastle office. BrightStart, which has operated for the past three years, supports students in gaining professional qualifications alongside on-the-job training, all while kick-starting their careers and earning a good salary.
Hundreds of students are applying for places on the programme each year, alongside those who seek places on Deloitte’s graduate scheme. Among the new BrightStart intake is Rakib Islam, from Darlington, who achieved A-levels in Sports Science, ICT and Maths at the town’s Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College. He has secured a role within the corporate audit team.
“I was attracted to Deloitte because of the range of development opportunities available, the rewarding nature of the role and how the BrightStart programme will help me succeed in the long term,” he said.
Stephen Hall, office senior partner at Deloitte in Newcastle, said apprenticeships had significant benefits for the firm – as well as the students. “The recruitment of these young people underlines our commitment to developing the next generation of outstanding business talent from all walks of life,” he said.
“The success of BrightStart demonstrates that the lack of a university degree is no barrier to an aspirational career choice. We are recruiting school and college leavers who are incredibly talented and motivated, and through the programme they will have the same career opportunities as any graduate.
“We have found some fantastic people through both our apprenticeship and graduate programmes, and for us it is very rewarding to watch those young people progress in their careers,” he said.
Deloitte is one of the UK’s largest recruiters and continues to work hard to ensure the firm’s talent pool is diverse and reflects the make-up of today’s society. In the last financial year, 5,000 people joined Deloitte, with more than a third being graduates and school leavers, including 270 on the BrightStart scheme.
Although a university degree is still the most common route into a ‘Big Four’ professional services firm such as Deloitte, higher apprenticeships are proving an increasingly popular alternative route into a career.
As Stephen Hall explained: “Most people who come to us today have a university background, but go back 40 years and you will find that most articled clerks, as trainees were then known, went into those jobs directly from school. “The range and quality of higher apprenticeship programmes available are making them increasingly attractive to young people, who may be put off university by the cost of a degree.”
Deloitte’s student recruitment process includes blind recruitment and academic contextualisation, which ensure that all applicants are assessed equally, regardless of their background. “Whenever I go into local schools and colleges and talk to students, I am very keen to stress to them that they have a realistic opportunity for a career with Deloitte,” said Stephen.
“Academic capabilities are important when it comes to recruiting young people, but so are selfmotivation, enthusiasm and a willingness to work hard and learn.”
Deloitte’s continued investment in its graduate and BrightStart programmes is also testament to its growth plans for the region, with investment in people key to the firm deepening and broadening its capabilities in order to serve clients and make a positive impact on their businesses.
