Global accountancy group EY has appointed 45 graduates and apprentices to its Bristol office – up from 41 last year – as it boosts its investment in its regional business and its commitment to nurturing early talent.
The new hires are among EY’s 1,088 student recruits across the UK, including 909 graduates and 179 apprentices. 
Some 44% of all student recruits this year were based in EY offices outside London, with 46% of all the student recruits women, 38% from an ethnic minority and 4% Black.
Of Bristol’s student hires, 42% are women and 22% are from ethnic minorities.
The Bristol office, which employs more than 400 people, also ramped up its Business Academy, Industrial Placements and Summer Internship schemes, welcoming 30 summer interns – up from 19 last year despite the challenges of Covid.
The programmes provide students with insights into working life at EY and are also designed to help build key skills.
EY Bristol office managing partner Karen Kirkwood, pictured, said: “At a time when many students have been facing a challenging jobs market, we have continued to recruit throughout the pandemic and honoured all the conditional offers made prior to A-level results for the second year running. 
“In Bristol, we’ve been recruiting across all level of the business, from apprentices through to new associate partners and partners to strengthen our capabilities in the region.
“It’s an exciting time to be working with and supporting our clients across the South West and Wales as they transition out of the pandemic.”
EY adapted its student recruitment programmes over the past 18 months to ensure that graduates and apprentices were still able to receive meaningful client experiences and study for their professional qualifications while working virtually.
With restrictions now easing, students will complete their induction training virtually before adopting a hybrid working arrangement from mid-autumn onwards, when they will split their time between office, client sites and remote working.
To ensure students receive the right level of support, EY has also introduced more one-to-one touchpoints for them, with their line managers and coaches and will be arming them with tools and tips on working in a virtual world.
There will also be both virtual and in-person networking sessions and more peer support groups.
EY last year set out a series of new anti-racism commitments to help attract and retain diverse talent.
This included a commitment to offering at least 30% of its work experience places to young Black people for the next five years as well as increasing the number of places on its ‘Discover EY Black Heritage in Business’ programme for first year undergraduates by 72%.
The two-day virtual programme gives Black students the opportunity to learn more about EY, gain career advice and network.
EY’s Race and Ethnicity employee network is also now offering a mentoring scheme to support early talent as students begin their career at EY.
