The University of Birmingham has become the third establishment to join KPMG UK’s school leavers scheme, starting in September 2012.

The KPMG UK scheme, which combines studying part-time for an accountancy degree with part-time work at the firm, has been running since 2011 at Durham and Exeter Universities.

This year 1500 students have applied for 150 places on the programme, which includes paid tuition fees and a starting salary of around £20,000, followed by two years professional accountancy training with KPMG. Two thirds of applicants are from state schools or Further Education colleges.

KPMG UK head of corporate affairs Marianne Fallon said it is important for the firm to cast the net as wide as possible to seek out, and invest in, the very best people that are the future the business. 

“Increasing social mobility is vital to us.  We know that we have to draw on a wider pool of talent if the profession is to stay relevant to society in a rapidly evolving world,” Fallon said.

KPMG has also announced that it in October twenty school leavers will start a three year course with its risk consulting practice, where they will have the option to work towards an accounting qualification with the Association of Accountant Technicians or towards a technology qualification. They can then choose to continue their studies or to follow another career within KPMG.