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Financial services firm PwC has recruited more than 200 graduates and school leavers to its office in Birmingham.

The firm, which moved to a new home at the £700 million Paradise project at the turn of the year, has taken on 219 new recruits including graduate level, higher apprentices and school leavers in its autumn intake.

These add to 31 in the Castle Donington office and 25 at its base in Milton Keynes, making a total of 275 across its three operations in the region which the firm said was a 23 per cent increase on its 2019 intake.

Forty-two students have joined its third cohort of the technology degree apprenticeship programme which is run in partnership with the University of Birmingham and includes a fully funded degree, work placements with PwC and employment.

Senior partner in Birmingham Matthew Hammond said: "We are thrilled to welcome our annual intake of graduates, higher apprentices and school leavers in Birmingham, despite so much instability for young people and in the midst of covid-19 restrictions.

"It demonstrates our commitment to safeguarding opportunities for those at the outset of their careers.

"I am pleased to see how the class of 2020 has adapted so quickly with virtual inductions and immediately learning new ways of working.

"We recruit local talent including school leavers, higher apprentices and graduates from a diverse range of backgrounds, because we want to actively invest in the next generation of future leaders from our region."