BDO welcomes a record number of trainees

Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO has welcomed a record number of trainees in 2021, with more than 600 joining the firm across its graduate and apprenticeship programmes since the start of the year. 

The majority of BDO’s annual cohort of trainees joined the business in September, with the firm having welcomed 80 trainees earlier this year. More than 450 of the new joiners have been recruited to BDO’s audit team, demonstrating continued investment in its audit practice. More than half of the roles are based outside of London. 

The majority of the new trainees will be able to undertake a level-7 apprenticeship programme, resulting in a qualification equivalent to a master’s degree. 

Over the summer, BDO also hosted its first ever virtual insight programmes with the aim of enhancing equality, diversity and inclusion in the profession. Almost 90 students took part in the week-long initiatives, designed to provide insight into what a career in accountancy might look like. These included programmes aimed at students in school years 10-12 from a lower socio-economic background and university undergraduates from a Black heritage. Both programmes will be run again in 2022. 

In addition, the firm is planning to hire 50 industrial placement students for 12 months between their second and third year of university. These placements will be available in multiple locations including London, Glasgow, Leeds, Bristol and the North West.

Applications are now open for the firm’s 2022 graduate and school leaver apprentice programmes, with almost 700 positions available for next year’s cohort. 

BDO is also one of the companies taking part in the #10000BlackInterns programme for Summer 2022 and was a founding member and signatory of Access Accountancy, a collaboration of 25 accounting firms and professional bodies, dedicated to improving social mobility.

Paul Eagland, Managing Partner at BDO, said:

“Welcoming our new cohort of trainees to the firm is one of the highlights of the year. 
Despite the uncertainty caused by the pandemic we remain committed to investing in the next generations; many of whom have experienced difficult situations as they have completed their school and university educations. It feels extra special to be able to offer positions to a record number of new trainees across the UK.
 
“In spite of some of the challenges that came with having to adapt to working as a fully-remote workforce during the pandemic, it was fantastic to host our first targeted insight programmes earlier this year. We’re continuing our long-standing commitments to improving social mobility, diversity and inclusion as we invest in young people, who will become our advisers of the future.”

More information about BDO’s programmes and 2022 positions can be found here.

-ENDS

Notes to editors

Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP provides integrated advice and solutions to help businesses navigate a changing world. 

Our clients are Britain’s economic engine – ambitious, entrepreneurially-spirited and high-growth businesses that fuel the economy.  

We share our clients’ ambitions and their entrepreneurial mind-set. We have the right combination of global reach, integrity and expertise to help them succeed.  

BDO LLP
BDO LLP operates in 18 offices across the UK, employing 6,000 people offering tax, audit and assurance, and a range of advisory services. BDO LLP is the UK member firm of the BDO international network.

BDO’s global network
The BDO global network provides business advisory services in 167 countries, with 91,000 people working out of 1,658 offices worldwide. It has revenues of $10.3bn.  

Contact  

Emma Ordidge
PR Manager, BDO LLP
Phone: +44(0)7812 380 571
Email: emma.x.ordidge@bdo.co.uk    

Press office: 
Phone: 020 7893 3000
Email: media@bdo.co.uk