2019 will include 450 new trainees for BDO
This will make 2019 the most successful year ever in terms of trainee intake
BDO is a firm that places a focus on ensuring they have a strong foundation for young and aspiring accountants to train with them.
They have recently announced that up to 450 trainees will be welcomed into the firm in 2019—a record number of trainees for the firm. This will bring BDO’s trainee total to more than 1,100 by the end of next year.
Applications for a place are now open and will be based across the firm’s 16 UK offices. These future programmes will be split across four key areas: apprenticeship, graduate, summer school, and summer internships.
In particular, the firm is looking to increase their intake of apprentices, with 120 apprenticeship spaces confirmed for 2019; this is a 33% increase on this year.
BDO has reported that most of their trainees will be given the opportunity to undertake a level-7 apprenticeship programme—this is the equivalent of a master’s degree. The firm’s commitment to apprenticeships support their ‘New Economy’ campaign, the idea of this being to call on “the government to increase efforts to tackle the UK skills gap. BDO’s policy suggestions include reform of the Ofsted assessment system to give some weight to the number and quality of apprenticeship places secured by schools.”
Paul Eagland, managing partner at BDO, concluded: “Each year we welcome trainees who bring individuality, energy, ambition, and fresh thinking to BDO. They are part of our DNA and have a huge impact on the culture and future direction of the firm.
“Since refreshing our recruitment strategy, widening our entry criteria, and moving the recruitment process online, we have seen an uplift in both the diversity and volume of applications we’re receiving. I expect we’ll get more than 10,000 applicants this year for the 450 roles available, which is fantastic for our business.”