PwC launches Manchester ‘Flying Start Programme’

The Manchester launch follows on the back of successful ‘Flying Start Programmes’ launched at The University of Newcastle, now in its 18th year, Henley Business School at the University of Reading, now in its 7th year, and Nottingham University Business School now in its 5th year. Since their launch PwC has recruited a total 768 graduates through the programmes.  

The degree with Alliance Manchester Business School will be a BSc Honours Business Accounting (with industrial/professional experience) which is a four year partnership degree programme incorporating three paid work placements with PwC.

Recruitment for the new degree programme will commence when UCAS opens on 4th September 2019. PwC will be looking to recruit a cohort of around sixty students for the first intake who will start the degree in September 2020. 

During the degree programme students will cover the ICAEW Certificate and Professional Level exams which means once they graduate it will only be necessary to complete the final three exams at the Advanced Levels. Post university it takes each graduate approximately 15 months to fully qualify.

At the end of the degree programme, subject to good performance during the placements and achieving a 2.1, students will be made a job offer to join PwC as a Senior Associate. 95% of graduates from this summers ‘Flying Start Programme’ will be joining PwC in September.

Louise Farrar, PwC’s Head of Student Recruitment said:

“I’m delighted we have been able to launch a Manchester ‘Flying Start Programme’ with Alliance Manchester Business School building on our existing successful programmes. These programmes have provided a successful career path in to PwC for over 750 graduates since their launch so we clearly have the recipe right.”

“Creating different routes in to professional services is vital for its future success, attracting and retaining talent is a key focus for the firm to ensure we future proof our business so we can continue to solve important problems for our clients”.

Wendy Wild, Programme Director at Alliance Manchester Business School added;

“Alliance Manchester Business School has a tradition of working closely with organisations and institutions from across the world to deliver high quality programmes. We are looking forward to working with PwC and the ICAEW to offer an innovative course which will involve research informed teaching and experiential learning with PwC throughout the programme, leading to students gaining significant ICAEW exemptions to fast-track their professional career.

“The University of Manchester embraces students from all backgrounds to support them in reaching their full potential and giving them a solid academic foundation to pursue their desired career. This new programme is an exciting opportunity that has been designed to attract the brightest students who have the desire to be a professional Chartered Accountant with the largest global firm of accountants.”

Shaun Robertson, Director Education and Qualifications at ICAEW commented;

“ICAEW is proud and excited to be working in collaboration with PwC and The University of Manchester on this ground-breaking programme. Blending academic study and professional study provides efficiencies for students but each of the studies compliment each other, enhancing the student experience. Adding in practical work experience from PwC to this mix ensures that we are building a community for the development of future, high-quality ICAEW Chartered Accountants – welcome to the ICAEW Strategic Degree and PwC Flying Start family.” 

Daniel Wilbourn, who went through the Newcastle ‘Flying Start Programme’ in 2010 and is now a PwC Assurance Director based in the Manchester office concluded;   

“The flying start programme provides an excellent pathway into PwC. Blending university based learning with work placements really helps to put your knowledge into practice, and the ICAEW exemptions gained over the course of the programme provide a real benefit to the start of your full-time career with the firm.” 

The recruitment and admissions process is the same as for all of PwC’s existing programmes with students applying directly through UCAS (in the same way that they would for any other degree programme).