Accountancy group Grant Thornton UK has increased the trainee intake to its Bristol office by 25% this year as it looks to develop more multifaceted and inclusive teams.
This year’s 27-strong cohort, pictured, includes two school leavers who have joined straight after taking their A levels. 
Their arrival at the firm, which employs nearly 300 people across its Bristol and Cardiff bases, comes as new research shows that apprenticeships are becoming more popular with both young people and their parents.
A recent Grant Thornton survey of 2,000 parents with children aged 12-21 and 2,000 young people aged 16-21 revealed that parents were more likely to encourage their child to apply for a school leaver apprenticeship (44%) than for university (40%).
The research also found that the percentage of parents who perceive school leaver apprenticeships as providing good career prospects has risen from 79% in 2018 to 84% this year. 
Some 73% of young people also believed that school leaver apprenticeships offered good career prospects.
Grant Thornton South West practice leader Lauren Carlyle, pictured, said: “I entered the accountancy industry as a school leaver and found that it allowed me to get to grips with the sector much earlier than if I had gone to university and gain much more experience earlier on in my career.
“So, it’s great to welcome several people who have opted for this route out of their A levels.
“We’re delighted to welcome such a large and diverse group of talented individuals to our South West team.
“At Grant Thornton, we’re very proud of the supportive culture that has been created to help those taking their first steps in the accountancy industry and give them the best possible opportunity to fulfil their potential.
“We know that it’s important to develop multifaceted and inclusive teams and as such we actively hire both graduates and school leaver apprentices and have long championed the benefits of both.”
She said the significant expansion of Grant Thornton’s public sector audit team in the region, along with the strengthening of its private capital and transaction advisory services, demonstrated the firm’s commitment to supporting the region’s dynamic and innovative businesses with the advice and expertise they require.
Among the new intake is Seb Wilkinson, a 22-year-old audit associate who achieved a 2:1 in BSc Sociology from the University of Bristol.
He said: “What attracted me to Grant Thornton was the ability to learn something new alongside people my age.
“I was particularly drawn to the opportunity to work for public sector entities and would like to contribute to their spending, to ensure it’s as appropriate and efficient as possible.
“Since joining, I’ve found that the team is supportive and willing to listen to the needs of newcomers.”
Grant Thornton employs more than 5,500 staff and 200 partners across its 22 UK offices.
