Deloitte holds graduate ranking

Oct 10 2007 by Iain Laing, The Journal

BUSINESS advisory firm Deloitte has been ranked number two for the second year running as the UK’s most sought-after graduate employer in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers.

The top six positions in the ranking all remained unchanged this year as the top performing companies held on to their positions.

Deloitte, which moved up from sixth to second place last year, beat competition from organisations such as Accenture, Goldman Sachs and the BBC to take the second-place slot.

The award comes after Deloitte’s Newcastle office prepares to take some of the region’s most promising business professionals on its prestigious graduate scheme, offering them their first entry into the corporate sector.

Twenty one new graduates have just started their training at the Grey Street office, and they will now undergo a comprehensive practical and theoretical training programme, as they work towards achieving their professional qualifications. The three-year programme includes time spent at college, as well as at clients’ premises and Deloitte’s Newcastle office, where the graduates will work on live client projects and prepare for chartered accountancy exams.

John Watson, 21, from Whickham, is a graduate of the University of Durham, where he gained a degree in maths and economics. He will join Deloitte’s audit department.

He said: “My ambition was to work for one of the North-East’s ‘big four’ firms and I felt Deloitte had the most to offer in terms of career progression, as it boasts a diverse range of clients, dynamic training opportunities, and a relaxed yet professional environment.”

Paul Williamson, senior partner at Deloitte in Newcastle, said: “Attracting the best graduate talent is fundamental to the long-term success of Deloitte, both nationally and regionally, and there is great demand for the places we have available.”