• Swindon & Wiltshire Appointments
• Tuesday October 31 2023
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Grant Thornton’s Bristol team welcomes next generation of talent

Grant Thornton UK LLP is set to welcome 21 young employees to its Bristol office this year, as part of the leading business and financial adviser’s largest-ever nationwide intake of graduates and school leavers.

The new starters will join a variety of departments across the South West business, including commercial audit, tax, public sector audit, forensics, and VAT.

This represents a 75 per cent increase on the 12 new joiners that were introduced to the Bristol team in 2022.

This year, a record number of new school leavers and graduates will be starting their careers at Grant Thornton, with a combined total of 496 people joining the firm via these routes.

Of this, a total of 213 school leavers will be welcomed onto Grant Thornton’s apprenticeship programme, which is a 13 per cent increase compared to 2022 (188) and the highest number ever to join the firm in one admission.

For the first time, nationally, the firm’s audit department – which hires the largest number of trainees in the business – saw more school leavers than graduates start at the function.

As well as welcoming its new trainee intake, the firm, which is a founding member of Access Accountancy, offered 218 work experience placements to sixth form students through the scheme this year – a significant increase compared to 2022 (131).

Jonathan Riley, practice leader for Grant Thornton UK LLP in the South West, said: “At Grant Thornton, we’ve been evolving our approach to identifying talent, with more of a focus on future potential and strengths, as opposed to past achievements and academic profile.

“Our emphasis on increasing our school leaver intake has allowed us to access a new, diverse talent pool that we would previously have been missing.

“The school leaver apprenticeship route offers an excellent path into the profession for young students.

“Our school leavers develop into well-rounded business advisers, gain an internationally recognised qualification and become professionally qualified a year ahead of their peers who choose to go to university and then join our graduate programme.”

Kiera Spicer is an 18-year-old school leaver starting at Grant Thornton this year as an audit associate and is the first person in her family to go on to further education.

She said: “I initially came across Grant Thornton when looking for work experience in the accounting industry, and successfully got on to their online work experience. I was attracted to the atmosphere at the company and how every person I met was proud and happy to be working there.

“Even in my short time at the company, you can tell there is a great deal of respect and understanding towards all employees regardless of job roles. Everyone is readily available to help and teach which makes learning in the firm easier to navigate.

“The company does a lot to help employees, providing flexible working hours, training to make sure everyone has equal opportunities and always having someone available to help with understanding and provide resolutions.”

Louise Kinnison, a 23-year-old advisory associate has joined Grant Thornton in Bristol after studying Chemistry with Management at the University of Bath.

She said: “I was attracted to a career in business and financial advisory services as I really enjoyed the accounting and corporate finance modules I studied on my degree.

“After my placement year I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in finance, and I was particularly attracted to joining a professional services firm as the corporate career and idea of working with clients really appealed to me.”

20-year—old Leon Lau from Hertfordshire has just started a 12-month placement in the audit team at Grant Thornton’s Bristol office following his graduation from economics at the University of Bath.

He said: “I was attracted to Grant Thornton due to the work culture and values that the company holds. I was also interested in the opportunity to work for one of the largest accounting networks internationally whilst maintaining a healthy work-life balance.”