The barriers to unlocking social mobility, highly skilled workforces and economic growth in the financial and accounting sector were revealed in research by the University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC).

Only 7% of universities offer accounting and finance degree apprenticeships, with the subject ranked ninth in terms of academic provision.

‘More work is needed if the UK’s higher education system is going to be in a position to offer every available degree apprenticeship to ensure financial and accounting sector employers and student ambition is met,’ UVAC said.

All the Big Four accounting firms run apprenticeship programmes in joint partnership with universities, providing a mix of academic and on-the-job work experience and training.