Grant Thornton UK LLP has hired a raft of new starters this September, as the firm looks to invest in the future of its South West team.

12 graduates and school leavers have joined the leading business and financial advisory firm’s Bristol office across a broad range of departments, including audit, tax and public sector audit.

The new joiners have been welcomed from various stages of education including school leavers, university graduates and placement students.

Nationally, Grant Thornton has more than doubled the number of trainees joining its school leaver apprenticeship programme, achieving a record 193 new recruits, up from 90 in 2021.

The firm has also welcomed a record number across its broader trainee intake in 2022, with a combined 461 new graduates and school leavers joining across the country.

Grant Thornton, which was named in the top 10 of the Department for Education’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers in 2022, aims to reach a 50:50 split in its trainee hire population between university graduates and those joining straight from school.

Jonathan Riley, practice leader for Grant Thornton UK LLP in the South West, said:

“We are committed to nurturing the next generation of leaders by providing a supportive culture and an inspiring environment where they are set up to thrive and succeed. Giving them the chance to work closely with people who were once in their shoes allows them to see the many opportunities that lie ahead and ensure that they make the right career decisions for them. We are confident that all of our new recruits will make real assets to their teams and go onto fulfil their incredible potential.”

New starter Harry Smith, who has joined Grant Thornton as an Audit Associate, expressed how welcome he has felt. He said:

“Everyone at Grant Thornton has made my first few days extremely enjoyable. Other new joiners, managers and partners have all made an effort to engage with me and make me feel at ease in the infancy of my career.

“I hope to develop my skillset during my time at Grant Thornton and make a positive impact on both employees and clients. I know that Grant Thornton will provide a nurturing environment in which I can achieve this.”

23-year-old Graduate Audit Associate, Eyad Omar Freites, said:

“The culture that I had heard about at Grant Thornton, is in fact even better than I had expected. The inclusion and the togetherness of the firm creates a happy and motivating environment for everyone, and I cannot wait to immerse myself further into it.”

Eight new starters have also recently joined Grant Thornton's Cardiff office, bringing the total number of graduates and school leavers that started at the firm's South West and Wales teams in September to 20.