Higher Apprenticeship and Graduate RecruitmentComplementary Approaches to Expanding the Talent Pool – A Professional Services Example

Sara CaplanPartner, PwC

www.pwc.co.uk

November 2012

PwC

Professional Services Higher ApprenticeshipThe ‘talent crunch’ facing the professional services...

Only 30 % of CEOs think they will be able to access the talent they need to drive growth in their businesses

The typical accountant grows up in a family that is better off than 3 in 4 UK families

1 in 3 CEOs are concerned that skills shortages will constrain innovation in their businesses

30%

3 in 4

1 in 3

Slide 2

PwC

Professional Services Higher Apprenticeship Adopting a new employer-led approach to design

Frameworks developed by employers

Active input from Further and Higher Education partners

Employers and professional bodies work together to develop frameworks

Public consultation on draft frameworks

Alignment with existing professional development pathways

A new SASE compliant framework at level 4 and a new path to fully chartered status at level 7

We have worked with employers of all sizes from the professional services sector and beyond to develop the new framework at level 4, and are developing a new framework at level 7 to take participants to fully chartered status

Slide 3

PwC

Professional Services Higher Apprenticeship What are we doing in PwC?

Slide 4

University Degree Partnerships

Internships

Higher Apprenticeships

Graduates

At PwC we’re constantly challenging ourselves to open up new routes into the firm that will enable us to tap into the broadest possible talent pool

PwC

Professional Services Higher Apprenticeship Creating a framework aligned with proven pathwaysThe level 4 framework includes distinct pathways for each of the Audit, Tax and Management Consulting occupations

Slide 5

We are now working on a follow-on Apprenticeship at Level 7 in Accounting, Audit and Tax. This will offer a progression route from the Level 4 Apprenticeship and allow Apprentices to achieve full chartered status.

Consulting Consulting theory Business skillsConsulting

practice

Professional qualification

(ATT)Business skills Tax practice

Professional qualification

(CFAB)Business skills Audit practice

Tax

Audit

PwC

Professional Services Higher Apprenticeship Working with Further and Higher Education

We are working closely with Further and Higher Education Institutions to help them prepare to deliver the new Higher Apprenticeships with their employer clients

• Working group sessions to capture input on draft frameworks

• Providing advice, guidance and good practice through virtual ‘Community of Interest’, e.g.:

• Live webinars on funding, assessment, engaging young people

• Information and guidance on induction and career progression

Slide 6

PwC

Professional Services Higher Apprenticeship Engaging employers in development and delivery

We have engaged with employers of all sizes to secure their active input to the development of the frameworks, and continue to encourage them to adopt it, and to provide support and guidance• Engagement through

existing, business-to-business networks:

- Direct engagement with PwC clients, supply chain, alumni.

- Sector and professional body networks, e.g. ICAEW, ATT.

• Guidance and information through ‘Community of Interest’.

• Engaging communications, through website, social media, blogs and video

Slide 7

PwC

Professional Services Higher Apprenticeship Raising awareness and interest amongst young peopleTo establish Higher Apprenticeships as a mainstream route to high skill careers in the professions, we must first establish them as a credible choice in the minds of young people

• Supporting and promoting the Inspiring the Future initiative.

• Employers’ engagement toolkit, including interactive sessions, speaking notes.

• Creating new professional services skills competition.

• Careers advisor briefing sessions, factsheets.

• Careers fairs and school engagement.

Slide 8

PwC

Higher ApprenticeshipsCreating a new professional services skills competitionWe are creating a new skills competition to support our Apprentices’ development, celebrate success and raise awareness about the new frameworks

• Team-based case study game with regional heats, high profile national final.

• Focus on developing and testing business skills included in framework.

• Launched at the Skills Show in Birmingham in November

• Aligns with requirements for WorldSkills UK.

Slide 9

PwC

Professional Services Higher Apprenticeship Forward look: real progress, lots to do...

The framework at level 4 has been issued, our first Apprentices have started, and development of the next framework at level 7 is well underway

October 2012

Open consultation on draft level 7

framework

Continued employer engagement, guidance and support

November 2012

Launch skills competition at The

Skills Show

December 2012

Careers fair and school

engagement for Higher

Apprenticeships

January to March 2013

Finalise content for inclusion in

level 7 framework

April 2013

Issue level 7 framework

April 2013 onwards

Support implementation of level 7 framework

Slide 10

This publication has been prepared for general guidance on matters of interest only, and does not constitute professional advice. You should not act upon the information contained in this publication without obtaining specific professional advice. No representation or warranty (express or implied) is given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this publication, and, to the extent permitted by law, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, its members, employees and agents do not accept or assume any liability, responsibility or duty of care for any consequences of you or anyone else acting, or refraining to act, in reliance on the information contained in this publication or for any decision based on it.

© 2012 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved. In this document, “PwC” refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (a limited liability partnership in the United Kingdom) which is a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, each member firm of which is a separate legal entity.