PwC has won the overall Gradireland Graduate Employer of the Year award. The professional services firm was also awarded the Association of Higher Education Career Services (AHECS) Engagement Award for their partnership with career services and were recognised for their Student Marketing Campaign and Training & Development Programme. The graduate employer of the year award, which is voted by a diverse panel of experts, seeks to identify excellence in all aspects of graduate recruitment.

PwC's People Partner, Susan Kilty said: "We're delighted to have won the Gradireland 2016 Employer of the Year award in what is a highly competitive market. This award validates our excellent graduate recruitment programme where we aim to deliver the best possible experience for graduates and undergraduates allowing them to be the best they can be. We employ over 290 graduates every year, providing them with visibility and exposure to the best opportunities."

“Assurance and tax make up the largest part of our practice and we continue to recruit a large number of business and law graduates. However, we now have graduates join our firm from many other skills and backgrounds such as technology, economics and data science.”

PwC has also developed summer intern and work placement programmes. Next month, 130 summer interns will join the organisation to gain insights into the culture and opportunities available at the graduate employer of the year. They will spend the summer working with client teams and spend time learning about the reach of PwC’s international network.

Once graduates are hired their first month involves an intensive programme focused on helping them to understand how an organisation of PwC’s size works and begin to develop their business skills.

“We want to make incoming graduates feel welcome and comfortable in learning how we operate. Everyone is given a ‘buddy’, who is always there to answer questions and make sure that they are integrating well and training is provided on our processes and systems,” says Kilty.

“Most graduates who join us are undertaking professional exams over their first three to four years and are on a comprehensive learning and development programme to help them pass. This commitment is underpinned by the support provided internally which saw PwC employees achieve 1st place in the five major tax and accountancy professional exams in 2015.”