BUSINESS and technology advisory firm Deloitte is to take on 70 new Belfast apprentices this year.
As part of the company's BrightStart scheme, the new apprentices will bring the total number of young people to join the company through the scheme to approximately 180, roughly one fifth of its total workforce in Northern Ireland.
BrightStart is a five-year professional development programme which helps apprentices gain an honours degree (BSc in Business Technology) through Ulster University as well as recognised professional qualifications and a job at Deloitte, working for the company’s clients across the UK.
The programme, now in its fourth year in Northern Ireland, has up to now been primarily aimed at school leavers, but this year candidates were from a broad range of backgrounds and ages, including those who previously worked in other jobs.
Deloitte’s senior partner in Belfast, Jackie Henry said the BrightStarts are an "invaluable" part of the firm.
"They bring new ideas to the table which enable us to look at problems from a different perspective and this elevates the offering we present to our clients.”
“It is testament to the success of the BrightStart programme that those who joined as apprentices now make up almost one fifth of our team in Belfast, working in every area of the business, from audit to human capital, tax consulting to technology."
"We’re proud to offer an alternative route for talented individuals looking for a career with Deloitte and it is really pleasing this year that we’ve been able to broaden the demographic and place some candidates who are not immediate school leavers on the programme," she added.
Judith Wylie, course director of BSc Hons Business Technology at Ulster University believes the partnership with Deloitte is mutually beneficial.
"The students are performing exceptionally well and regularly apply the knowledge and skills developed from their client facing work to their academic studies and vice versa. This dynamic learning experience is clearly developing positive synergies from working and learning through a Degree Apprenticeship programme," she said
