RSM has topped the annual rankings as the largest employer of accountancy apprentices in the country, while a third of top 20 are accountancy firms
RSM was ranked in 8th place alongside other top 10 employers including the British Army, BT and BAE Systems.
The accounting firm took on a total of 350 new apprentices last year, with more than a quarter of the firm’s staff currently on apprenticeships.
Grant Thornton was ranked 10th with 414 apprentices representing nearly 20% of staff on apprenticeship training programmes.
The best performing Big Four firm was EY in 11th spot, with 616 apprentices, accounting for one in 10 staff at the firm.
In 14th place, Bishop Fleming had the highest percentage of apprentices at 34.5%, equivalent to 82 apprentices, followed by Mazars in 15th spot with 345 apprentices – one in four staff, while Deloitte was 16th with 663.
In 20th spot, Lovewell Blake had 40 apprentices with 27% of staff training on apprentice schemes.
In the professional services sector, 11,154 apprentices were employed, and 4,537 new apprentices started in 2021-22.
The Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2022 is the national league table that recognises England’s leading apprenticeship employers for their overall commitment to employing apprentices, their creation of new apprenticeships, the diversity of their new apprentices, and the progression of their apprentices onto further apprenticeships and employment.
Rob Donaldson, CEO at RSM UK, said: ‘We’re delighted to be named the country’s top employer of apprenticeships within professional services and are proud of what we are trying to do. There’s no escaping the cold truth that career prospects for young graduates and school leavers have diminished as a result of the pandemic and wider economic events.
‘Whilst our experiences of the past couple of years have presented challenges, our strength as a firm, and what has been a strong period for us financially, has allowed us to take some bold steps, and a long-term approach.
‘So, we’re investing in and growing our very own talent now, and a key part of our plan is to apply it at career-entry level. We believe that is to the benefit of talented young prospective employees looking to join leading organisations, but who are doing it in an extremely competitive market.’
The annual rankings have been developed by the Department for Education, in partnership with High Fliers Research.