Grant Thornton UK has introduced an early careers programme designed to develop its next generation of partners.
The programme, which will welcome its first cohort in September 2027, will be supported by “market-leading pay” and provide new joiners with a defined pathway from trainee to partner, the professional services company said in a statement.
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According to the Independent, Grant Thornton’s £40,000 ($53,136) starting salary exceeds the estimated graduate salaries of up to £36,000 offered by ‘Big Four’ rivals KPMG, Deloitte, EY and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Trainees will also receive a named partner sponsor from their first day, alongside enhanced client exposure, international and cross-service-line secondments, and training in business development, networking and client engagement.
The programme will also include a digitally enabled curriculum, access to AI tools and digital solutions, and a fully funded professional qualification with paid study leave and expert tuition.
The programme is split into two phases: ‘Ascent’, which covers the initial qualification period, and ‘Summit’, which delivers ongoing progression support from qualification through to partner level.
Participants will be integrated into a single cohort across all service lines, alongside assigned partner sponsors.
The company stated that all existing associates will also benefit from the new programme.
Grant Thornton UK chief people officer Abigail Fisher said: “We are making a significant investment in our people proposition, from how we recruit our future partners to how we develop the talent already here.
“We want everyone to see a genuine path to partnership, backed by real investment in getting them there, including business development training at every level of the firm.
“Our 2027 Associate programme is the clearest expression of that ambition. It is built around international secondments, client secondments and a named Partner sponsor for every Associate. This, together with market-leading pay, sets us apart.
“There are future partners of this firm in sixth forms and university lecture theatres right now, deciding where to start. We want them to choose us, and to know that if they do, we will invest in them from day one.”
