We've created this hub to provide you with the information you'll need to help inform career discussions with your young people. From whether an apprenticeship is the right route and the application process, to the support they'll receive and future career opportunities, this page will help you guide informed decisions. 

School leaver apprenticeships offer a fantastic route into a career in professional services, so why may an apprenticeship be the right route for your young person?

  1. Learning whilst working.
    Not everyone learns best in the classroom. An apprenticeship gives people the opportunity to put the theory they learn at college into practice right away, aiding their learning experience.
  2. No student debt.
    Being able to earn whilst learning makes apprenticeships a great way to achieve professional qualifications whilst having more financial stability.
  3. Fast track to a career 
    If someone already knows they want to work towards an accountancy qualification, then an apprenticeship can often get them there quicker than going to university.
  4. Career opportunities.
    A chartered accountancy qualification opens up amazing opportunities, and can lead to long and varied careers. You can read more about the opportunities with Grant Thornton below.

If your young person is already at university and you are looking to support them in their career options, we also offer graduate programmes, 12 month placements and internships. You can find out more about these here.

A young woman with long blond hair is photographed wearing a black top, sat on a concrete bench with her hands on her knee.
Lauren shares how her experiences in a 12-month placement, job share, and secondment have re-shaped her career.
Lauren's story
Lauren's story

Lauren shares how her experiences in a 12-month placement, job share, and secondment have re-shaped her career.

Read Lauren's story
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Husayn's story
Husayn's story

Husayn shares his reasons for choosing audit, and why an apprenticeship was the right route for him.

Read Husayn's story
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Hannah's story
Hannah's story

Here’s how apprentice Hannah balances study, work, and playing for the England Future Roses Netball team.

Read Hannah's story
Oliver shares his career journey from internship to assistant manager within our transfer pricing team.
Oliver's story
Oliver's story

Oliver shares his career journey from internship to assistant manager within our transfer pricing team.

Read Oliver's story
A young woman is pictured leaning against a raised flower bed in a city space with dark-brick buildings in the background. She is looking directly at the camera and smiling, wearing grey tailored trousers and a pale cream top and shirt.
Chelsey's story
Chelsey's story

Chelsey shares her journey from joining us as a school leaver to becoming an advocate for diversity in the workplace.

Read Chelsey's story

    Supporting your young person

    As a parent, carer or guardian, the most important role you can play in the process is being there to support your young person. Sarah Ironmonger, a partner and parent, and Aqsa, a placement student, spoke about their experiences as a parent supporting children through the decision process and as a young person benefitting from a parents support. 

    Even if you haven’t experienced going through a similar process yourself, your help is really important, here's four simple ways you can help:

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    Talk to them about what they are looking for in their career, and what is important to them in an employer.

    Understanding the process means you can help support them. Make sure they have explored the employability hub and understand the application process before they begin. 

    Encourage them to look at the skills we are looking for, and spend time thinking about how their experience and skills align with these. 

    We look at more than just their academic achievements, and we consider these alongside strengths and motivations. Our application process is designed to give applicants the best opportunity to demonstrate how they align with our corporate values and what we're looking for. 

    Help them with practice interviews and thinking about questions they can ask, and responses they can give to show them at their best.

    Supported along the way

    We know a training contract is a big undertaking and we ask a lot of our trainees, but we also give them a lot of support in return. We have a dedicated early careers team who support our trainees throughout their training contract, from help in organising their studying to assistance with any additional learning needs, the early careers team are there to support alongside people managers. 

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    Career launchpad

    In 2024 we launched a brand new onboarding programme for our audit trainees. Career Launchpad prioritises the mental well-being and resilience of our trainees while, at the same time, preparing them to deliver high-quality work. Starting with an initial 12 weeks of practical and skills-based learning, the programme extends beyond this to set up trainees for future success with dedicated support and training. You can read more about Career Launchpad here.

    Opening up a world of opportunity

    Our open and accessible culture gives trainees amazing opportunities to interact with senior business figures early in their career and the progression pathway is structured to develop practical skills alongside professional exams, ensuring steady growth towards becoming qualified.

    Once qualified, the opportunities for trainees open up even further, they can keep progressing in their team, explore a different business area or travel abroad and work at one of the Grant Thornton member firms around the world.

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    Explore

    Our teams

    Read more about our business, and where your young person may be best suited to join.

    Life at Grant Thornton
    Behind the scenes

    Life at Grant Thornton

    Reward and benefits, a focus on development, and our people. Read more about life at Grant Thornton.

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    Be prepared

    Employability hub

    Help them prepare. Visit our employability hub to learn everything about the application process.