A STRONG performance in the North East and Yorkshire boosted revenues at accountancy giant Deloitte's regional offices to £85m.
The Northern division helped the company increase income nationally by 11% to £2,329m for the year to the end of May.
The group made a £569m profit distributable to partners, up from £535m in 2011, which means the average profit earned by each partner in the year was £789,000 compared with £758,000 last year.
In the region, Deloitte appointed five new partners and six new directors, in addition to 35 experienced hires and 88 new graduates, scholars and school leavers.
Martin Jenkins, practice senior partner for Yorkshire and North East, said: “This has been another robust performance in what continues to be an uncertain economic environment.
“Last year, we took the decision to invest heavily in people, skills and new solutions, such as Deloitte Analytics, in order to enhance and extend the services we offer our clients.
“This investment in our business is reflected in the growth we have achieved across our practice.”
The regional office saw particular growth in its consulting, advisory and tax businesses, alongside financial services, manufacturing and consumer business industry sector groups.
Jenkins added: “We are continuing to invest heavily in our people as reflected by the 11 partner and director appointments we have announced, which will enable us to further broaden and deepen the range of expertise and services we offer clients.
“Business has a vital role to play in leading a new era of wealth creation and we will continue to work closely with our clients to help them address the challenges they face, but also to encourage them to seize the opportunities the current environment presents.”
He also highlighted the role the regional partners had played in Deloitte’s capacity as official professional services provider to Locog, which organised the London Olympics, including the group’s lead London 2012 partner, Heather Hancock.
Paul Feechan, office senior partner for Deloitte in Newcastle, said: “The Newcastle office has had a strong year, growing our client base, which includes Northumbrian Water, Balfour Beatty, British Engines and Huntsman, as well as being involved in many of the major deals that have taken place in the North East over the past 12 months.”
Nationally, Deloitte is currently seeking to fill 1,750 entry level places for school leavers, students and graduates – an increase of 250 positions from last year. The company is one of the UK’s top three graduate recruiters and the vacancy figure includes spaces for 1,200 graduates.
