EARLY CAREERS
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KPMG has an impressive track record of volunteering at inner-city schools and in recent years it has extended this commitment by finding new routes of access for school and college leavers, giving these students increased opportunity to aim for the top, regardless of social background or economic circumstances. Alison Heron, Head of Student Recruitment at KPMG, tells its story…
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Recent college leaver and KPMG recruit, Syed is one young person that has
benefitted from the experience: “From the day I joined, I felt like I was holding KPMG’s reputation on my shoulders – that’s pretty huge, but I
knew it was my time to shine and show what I can do.
W
alk into the main reception of KPMG head office in Canada Square and you’re instantly struck by the
impressive corporate environment. To a young student starting out on a career it can certainly appear daunting. But there’s a big clue sitting in the reception area that tells us this is a business that perhaps isn’t as exclusive (or inaccessible) as it might at first appear. Taking centre stage is an artwork installation created by students at the City Academy in Hackney, a KPMG sponsored schools partnership. The fact that the installation can’t help but grab your attention is emblematic of KPMG’s commitment to supporting education and raising the aspirations of young people – and clearly shows how proud they are to be actively participating in this arena. It’s nothing new. KPMG has a history of volunteering in inner city schools through its Education Outreach initiatives. These encompass a wide spectrum of activities – from primary school through to sixth form – and range from providing reading helpers and curriculum support to delivering employability skills sessions and mentoring. Young people want, and need, choices. And we believe
there shouldn’t be just one route to establish the career you want. There should be different paths available. We’re committed to giving young people more options so they can start to explore the kind of career they want to build in a way that suits their circumstances and aspirations. Working hand in hand with their CSR driven Outreach activities, KPMG’s Education Engagement focuses on improving employability skills within schools – and is also a platform to promote the range of career development programmes it offers, from work experience and internships, to its specific school and college leaver programmes. There’s a lot to choose from too – from the 11-month
STARs programme (aimed at giving those from disadvantaged backgrounds the chance to explore all the potential career paths open to them within a firm like KPMG), to specific training programmes in Audit, Risk Technology and Risk Consulting.
In fact, its flagship six year Audit programme gives students the chance to both earn a salary and learn within the working environment from day one, as well as study for their accountancy degree from Birmingham, Durham or Exeter University (where their tuition and accommodation fees are paid for by KPMG) and enjoy the university experience too. Recent college leaver and KPMG recruit, Syed is one young person that has benefitted from the experience: “From the day I joined, I felt like I was holding KPMG’s reputation on my shoulders – that’s pretty huge, but I knew it was my time to shine and show what I can do. The support is always there if I ever get stuck. The key is to ask lots of questions and never be afraid to say you don’t understand. One of the big positives for me is that many of us are from different backgrounds. It’s a great way to learn new things and meet some genuinely interesting people.”
While KPMG has been very busy putting together its portfolio of School and College Leaver Programmes, the Student Recruitment marketing team has been equally busy looking at the best ways to promote them. This has involved extensive research with current school and college students, exploring their understanding of the opportunities available to them, their motivations and aspirations, and their challenges and barriers. One of the messages that came out time and again
through the research was ‘keep it simple’. This is an audience that wants communications to cut to the chase, explain things clearly and wants to hear the story from real people like them. As Schools Recruitment Manager, Emily Milne-Home, states, “This audience is our future. We want to inspire them – but also paint a very realistic picture of what we’re all about. We really do want to give them access to all areas of our business.” With the success to date of the School and College Leaver Programmes within KPMG – and the plentiful success stories of those, like Syed, who have been on them – this is definitely a real growth area for the business. It’s an exciting time for us and there are a lot of new developments in the pipeline – so watch this space.
www.kpmg.co.uk
GRADUATE RECRUITER 7
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