Leading business and financial adviser Grant Thornton UK LLP has been recognised in the Top 100 apprenticeship employers ranking, showcasing the country's outstanding apprenticeship employers.
Announced on 21 October, Grant Thornton was ranked 12th in the Top 100 - being recognised for its overall commitment to employing apprentices, its creation of new apprenticeships, the diversity of the firm’s new apprentices, and the progression of its apprentices onto further apprenticeships and employment.
Beginning in 2020, the annual rankings showcase the nation's Top 100 employers that have done the most to provide successful apprenticeships over the previous 12 months. Apprenticeship employers from many different industries and sectors appear in the Top 100 including the public sector, the third sector, hospitality, telecommunications and accountancy.
Grant Thornton has long championed the benefits that an apprenticeship can offer. Most recently, the firm launched its new ‘digital accountant’ pathway for its trainee intake; all of whom join the firm on an apprenticeship. The updated, bespoke programme, developed with education provider BPP, provides the firm’s trainees with a qualification that incorporates relevant digital skills alongside the traditional requisite technical accounting knowledge.
The firm has also recently aligned its trainee reward and progression framework to apprenticeship completion rather than exam completion. This highlights the importance now placed not only on technical knowledge but on developing the skills and behaviours needed to support their clients and to thrive in the profession.
Joanne Ritchie, Head of Early Careers, Grant Thornton UK LLP, said:
“We’re passionate about promoting the benefits and opportunity that the apprenticeship route can offer, to both school leavers and graduates. Over the past few years we have committed to building and maintaining a market leading apprenticeship programme and, working with BPP, this year we launched our new ‘digital accountant’ pathway.
“We’re committed to continuing to grow the diversity of our trainee intake to ensure our firm can offer a diverse range of perspectives and truly represent the society that we live in. We focus our recruitment on quality and potential, rather than academics, and we work hard to provide ‘everyday inclusivity’ to our trainees (and all our people) during their training period with us.
“Apprenticeships provide those who are keen to go straight into the world of work the opportunity to ‘earn while you learn’ and gain first-hand insight while taking the first step into a career, as well as a critical route in for graduates at a later stage. It’s so important that organisations, such as ours, continue to champion the route and make sure that people are aware of the diverse range of industries that apprenticeships are available in, at the various stages of your career, and focus on ensuring that the programmes we offer are market leading.”
The new rankings have been developed by the National Apprenticeship Service in partnership with High Fliers Research, who independently assessed and compiled the new national leader board of top apprenticeship employers.
Peter Mucklow, Director, Apprenticeships, Education and Skills Funding Agency, added:
“During such a difficult year it is encouraging to see that apprenticeships continue to be critical to business performance and success.
“Today’s announcement shows that there are outstanding employers delivering apprenticeships across all sectors, and the Top 100 apprenticeship employer rankings rightly give recognition and thanks to those who have shown, and continue to show, huge commitment to apprenticeships.
“I look forward to seeing how these 100 employers use their status to showcase the many benefits of apprenticeships, whilst encouraging other employers to consider recruiting an apprentice.”
More information can be found by visiting: topapprenticeshipemployers.co.uk
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