Azets targets 500 new apprentices in 2023 – 41 for the North West

Azets has announced plans to recruit more than 500 apprentices, graduates and school leavers in 2023 with 41 vacancies in the North West..

The UK Top 10 accountancy firm currently has 650 apprentices, graduates and school leavers across England, with 331 having joined in August 2022.

Azets is offering another 531 early careers opportunities for September 2023, to take the total to nearly 1,200 by the end of this year.

The contrast to 2017 when Azets had just 30 apprentices is stark and reflects the firm’s rapid growth and ongoing investment in talent development over the past six years.

Azets, which ranked 38 in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2022, is also providing opportunities to T Level students, the new intense technical vocational qualifications introduced by the government in 2020.

This latest graduate recruitment drive is part of Azets’ recently announced plan to add 900 roles across its UK business over the next 12 months.

The roles cover all levels, from associate through to partner, and service lines including audit and assurance, accounting and advisory business services, corporate finance, tax, and restructuring.

Elliot Morgan is an apprentice at Azets in the North West.

He said: “The apprenticeship route at Azets has enabled me to gain hands-on experience and develop knowledge in the accounting and finance industry, while working towards and achieving qualifications.

“Azets motivates its people and offers many attractive benefits. I have access to all the relevant help and support as I progress through my accountancy qualifications.  Working for a firm this size has exposed me to a wide range of clients and areas of the role, such that no two weeks are the same. There has always been a clear route for career progression with countless opportunities to grow and with the support of everyone here I know that this will continue.I also enjoy the social side of work, and have made many friendships.”

The school leaver route at Azets is a three- or six-year programme which can include two apprenticeship programmes.  The first leads to the student becoming qualified as AAT the second leads to their chartered accountancy qualification.

The graduate route is a three- or four-year programme where students study toward their chartered accountancy qualification.

An apprenticeship with Azets provides a bespoke programme that combines qualifications, skills, and behaviours training. Everyone gets a talent coach, and each new student gets a buddy and substantial amount of on the job training, giving them the opportunity to pave a career path for life.

Graham Rigby, Joint Regional Managing Partner at Azets in the North West said:

“At Azets we believe that there are real benefits to taking apprentices into a modern and flexible workplace. We see it as a productive and effective way to grow talent internally which in turn supports our ambitious growth plans in the North West. We see apprenticeships as the foundation for long term careers for our people which  gives them a feeling of belonging and  understanding of the goals of the firm.”

“Our commitment to early careers and creating accessible apprenticeship opportunities is stronger than ever. We have continued to increase apprenticeship opportunities year-on-year, as we continue to invest in people and talent development.

“We are also seeing a huge spike in demand, with a record number of applications for September 2023. This is not only being driven by young people but a diverse range of ages and people looking for a career change.

“Investing in people and talent development is a key strategy for Azets, benefiting our students and positioning the company well for the future, as we continue with our ambitious growth plans and deliver a service of outstanding professional quality, that is both personal and local.”

In January 2023 Azets current student cohort – comprised of school leavers, university leavers and apprentices in their 40s – achieved a first-time pass rate of over 90% in ICAEW, ICAS and ACCA exams.

All current early careers opportunities can be found at azets.co.uk/careers/early-careers-current-opportunities.