Many companies across the West of England are recruiting record numbers of staff as the region continues to recover from the pandemic.
Large corporates such as professional services firm Grant Thornton and defence giant Babcock are among the businesses taking on apprentices and graduates in large numbers.
Many of the West Country's businesses remain upbeat about their prospects and are looking to employ more people despite concerns about the national economy.
READ MORE: {}
Here we take a look at just some of the businesses that have been hiring people onto their trainee programmes.
Has your company made a large number or hires or appointed new staff recently? Get in touch by emailing hannah.baker@reachplc.com - and please include a picture.
Pennon
One of the largest companies in the South West has welcomed its first intake of graduates as part of ambitious new targets.
South West Water’s new Graduate Management Programme will invest in 100 graduates by 2025, and has already welcomed its first intake of 26 graduates, providing full-time, permanent opportunities in a variety of roles, all based in the South West.
These graduates have placements planned in all areas of South West Water and will all take on field-based roles across all areas of Devon and Cornwall.
Most Read
The first group on the new programme includes local graduates and those from other Universities across the 海角视频.
Susan Davy, chief executive of South West Water’s parent company, Pennon Group, said: “At the heart of any great business are the people who work in it and we are thrilled to welcome the first 26 graduates into the South West Water family.”
Old Mill
Financial firm Old Mill has welcomed 15 new starters as it continues to expand and grow.
New hires across the firm’s four offices in Exeter, Melksham, Wells and Yeovil are up 34% on last year, the company said.
Among those who have joined Old Mill recently are 10 trainee accountants who have come from various colleges, schools and universities across the 海角视频.
The graduates include Charlotte Wyatt and Libby Connaughton, while the school and college leavers include Lewis Bolland and Jessica Horsley.
Old Mill has also welcomed Mia Caines as a trainee accountant; Miles Beczkowski and Andrea Bowden as qualified accountants; Sarah Worrell as client manager; and Stephanie Lipton, a bookkeeper.
Don’t miss
Another new joiner is Matt Jeffery, whose previous role was as manager within the financial services audit practice at PwC.
Ian Carlson, managing director at Old Mill said: “I am delighted that Old Mill continues to buck the trend in terms of ongoing recruitment - we had a record trainee intake last year and are on course to beat that record this year.”
Babcock
Engineering and defence giant Babcock International has welcomed more than 200 new apprentices and graduates to its Devonport operations.
The aerospace, defence and security company said the 138 apprentices and 78 graduates will support a variety of projects and business areas, from life extension programmes on frigates and submarines, to advanced manufacturing happening at the vast site in Plymouth.
The apprentice roles are varied, from welders, fabricators and pipe workers, to electrical fitters, mechanical fitters and computer numerical control (CNC) machinists, while the graduates are involved in a wide range of roles within the business including: mechanical, electrical, process and civil engineers, naval architects and project managers.
Paul Foster, Babcock’s managing director for Devonport operations, said: “Our apprentices and graduates have a really important role in shaping our future here and I extend a very warm welcome to all of our new recruits.”
Bishop Fleming
Accounting and advisory firm Bishop Fleming has welcomed a record-breaking number of apprentices as it continues with its ambitious growth plans.
The firm has employed its highest number of school leavers and graduates, just a year on from becoming an accredited apprenticeship provider. The intake of 57 new apprentices (45 university graduates and 12 school leavers) is a 25% increase on last year, with the firm now employing over 430 people.
The apprentices will work across the firm’s seven offices in Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Torquay, Truro and Worcester.
Each trainee will receive an induction plan for 100-days as they start to undertake their qualifications from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), with whom the firm are a ‘Partner in Learning’ with.
Anna Averis, people director for Bishop Fleming, said: “After the disruption of Covid-19, it is brilliant that we have been able to welcome [the new starters] all in our offices.”
This year’s school leavers have joined from several local schools and colleges, as well as graduates from a variety of universities. Some apprentices have made significant career changes to join the firm, including a professional golfer, special constable and a TV research analyst.
Grant Thornton
A record number of new starters have joined Grant Thornton 海角视频's South West business, with 26 school leavers and graduate trainees on a path to becoming part of audit and tax practices.
The firm, which operates from bases at Glass Wharf in Bristol and Callaghan Square in Cardiff, will work with the new cohort to develop their professional skills.
Jonathan Riley, practice leader for Grant Thornton in the South West and Cardiff, said: "It’s a pleasure to welcome the class of 2021-22 aboard.
“As a firm, we strive to attract the best and brightest talent, young people who will shape the future of our business and deliver outstanding outcomes for our clients.”
RSM 海角视频
The audit, tax and consulting firm has recruited a record number of trainees, with the majority joining the firm this summer.
RSM hired 34 new recruits in Bristol, including 27 graduates and three school leavers - a 100% increase on last year’s total trainee intake. Nationally the firm has taken on almost 600 new recruits, including 429 graduates and 103 school leavers - up 50% on 2020.
The company said the drive to recruit was part of a “strategic intention” to strengthen the firm from within its own ranks and over the long term. The trainees are spread across the audit, corporate finance, risk, restructuring advisory, financial reporting and IT teams.
Kate Reid, office managing partner for RSM Bristol, said: ‘The jobs market is extremely competitive for young people, and this has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. I am glad we are able to offer a first step on the career ladder to so many bright, intelligent and hardworking individuals at what is an exceptionally challenging time.”
Barcan + Kirby
Bristol law firm Barcan+Kirby has appointed four trainee solicitors.
Amy Reeves, Alicia Perry-Watts, Hevy Khalil and Stephen Biggs have now all started their training contracts with the firm.
Ms Perry-Watts and Ms Khalil started their career as paralegals with the firm, and have joined the family and dispute resolution teams respectively.
Mr Biggs is new to the firm and completed his LPC at Cardiff University. Ms Reeves is also new and has spent the last four years working in probate for a leading legal firm.
The trainee solicitors will shadow senior solicitors with a variety of specialisms and turn their hands to a wide array of legal tasks. They will also move between the firm’s six offices and develop their client-handling skills through exposure to the firm’s client base.
Barcan + Kirby said it had a record number of applications for the training contracts this year, due an overhaul of the recruitment process. Next year, it will host a trainee event in person for prospective trainees.
Bill Willcocks, managing partner at Barcan+Kirby, said: “Congratulations to Alicia, Hevy, Stephen and Amy on their appointments as trainee solicitors. Our training programme provides them with a strong foundation on which to build a career in the legal profession.”
Barratt Developments
A female former intelligence corps soldier is one of six new armed forces recruits starting roles this month with the South West housebuilder.
Rachel Allen, 28, has become a trainee assistant site manager working at Embden Grange, Tavistock, currently being built by David Wilson Homes.
She is joined by Stewart Hales, who recently enrolled on the year-long apprenticeship programme to become a trainee site manager.
Ms Allen was in the Intelligence Corps for eight years, primarily in the counterintelligence and security disciplines. She left her role in the army in the summer before joining Barratt Developments' armed forces transition programme.
She said: "It's been a great environment to transition from the Army into, which makes the most of my skills and experience.”
Mr Hales is a trainee assistant site manager at Braid Park in Tiverton. He has been working as a fuel tank delivery driver since leaving the Royal Marines 14 years ago but felt it wasn't giving him the career prospects and challenge he was looking for.
He said: “I'm looking forward to building on my skills and experience in a new trade and working with dedicated teams across a range of new developments in the South West."
EY
EY’s Bristol office has welcomed 45 new graduates and apprentices – up from 41 last year.
The new hires are part of EY’s 1,088 student recruits across the 海角视频, including 909 graduates and 179 apprentices. A total of 44% of all the student recruits this year were based outside of London in EY’s regional offices. Of the new student hires in Bristol 42% are women and 22% are from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Karen Kirkwood, office managing partner at EY in Bristol, said: “I’m delighted to welcome the new student intake for 2021 to the Bristol office.
"At a time when many students have been facing a challenging jobs market, we have continued to recruit throughout the pandemic."
EY said it also welcomed 30 summer interns in Bristol in the summer - up from 19 in 2020.
Finch & Associates
The Clevedon-based tax and accountancy firm has welcomed Eve Hawkins and Terry Beacham as apprentice tax advisers.
It has also recently appointed business adviser Seb Hassan-Ally as head of tax. He joins from Deloitte in Bristol and will be overseeing the firm’s tax advisory arm.
Rachel Finch, managing director of Finch & Associates, said: “We’re really pleased to welcome Eve and Terry to the firm and wish them both every success as they begin their professional careers with Finch & Associates. It’s great to be able to give them a step up on the career ladder.”
She added: “We’re delighted to welcome Seb to head up our tax advisory team. He has great experience advising shareholders and entrepreneurial businesses."
Got a South West business news story you think we should feature on BusinessLive? Email hannah.baker@reachplc.com. To get all the region's latest business news straight to your inbox, visit our preference centre.