EY recently opened its doors to 1,088 new starters, reinforcing its commitment to nurture and invest in new talent.
Some 46% of this cohort of 909 graduates and 179 apprentices will be based outside of London in EY’s offices. The Big 4 firm said Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Reading have seen a particularly strong intake as the firm continues to invest in its regional business.
Of the new joiners, 46% are women, 38% are from an ethnic minority, and 4% are Black.
EY has adapted its student recruitment programmes over the last 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, where they will split their time between office, client site and remote working.
To ensure students receive the right level of support, EY has introduced more one-to-one touchpoints for students with their line managers and coaches and will be arming students 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.
Hywel Ball, EY’s UK Chair, says: “I am delighted to welcome our student recruits as they begin their career with EY. At a time when many students have been facing a challenging jobs market, we believe that it is important for our communities and the long-term success of our business to keep recruiting. That is why, we have continued to recruit throughout the pandemic, and honoured all conditional offers we made prior to A-Level results for the second year running.”
