Professional services firm EY has hired 52 young people to its Bristol office this year through its student programme. The company, which is based on Counterslip in Redcliffe, has recruited 48 graduates and four apprentices, it said.
The appointments are part of larger national investment in young talent by the business, which has recruited 1,473 students over the year – an increase of 35% on 2021.
EY said nearly 40% of its student recruits this year are based outside of London in regional offices – and of the hires, 38% are women and 17% are from an ethnic minority background.
Karen Kirkwood, EY’s managing partner for Bristol, added: “Our commitment to recruiting new talent demonstrates the strength of our business and the opportunities available across the region.
“I’m pleased to welcome this new cohort of students who will be working across our various business areas and look forward to seeing their careers grow and flourish at EY.”
EY said it had invested in new technologies and processes to help simplify the application process for its student recruitment programme, making it “more transparent”.
The firm also said it was using digital technology to engage and attract candidates alongside in-person events at schools, colleges and universities, including virtual reality job simulations at career fairs so people can experience what it’s like to work for the company.
Hywel Ball, EY’s UK chair, added: “These are record numbers for EY as we continue to invest in young talent to support our growth across the UK. We’re continuing to see strong levels of client demand and continued investment across the firm, which is why we’ve increased our student intake year on year, over the last three years, and hired more than 3,600 students.